TRANSPORT

Airports: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken to pass through security checks at each London airport was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport's report on improving the Air Passenger Experience (November 2007) provided some indications of security waiting times at Heathrow and Gatwick based on BAA data. Average daily queues were less than 10 minutes for 95 per cent. or more of the time at Heathrow in August 2007.
	No Government published data are currently available on average time taken to pass through security checks. The Department has also commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority to collect data on the average time taken through security checks at four selected UK airports.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how she plans to measure the emissions from UK aviation when the sector is included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK reports annually to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFGCC) estimates of emissions from UK sales of aviation fuels—known as "bunker fuels"—for domestic and international aviation. In doing so, the UK follows guidelines published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Estimates of emissions from fuel used for international aviation do not form part of the UK's national emissions inventory, as there has been no international agreement on how to allocate them to individual countries.
	The Government will continue to press internationally for an approach that would allocate responsibility for international aviation emissions, and therefore require action to be taken globally to address them. Such allocation may be, for example, to countries or to the international aviation sector as a whole.
	The inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) will not change directly international reporting arrangements. The Government do not believe that inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS will provide a suitable emissions allocation methodology. Responsibility for meeting the cap will be placed directly on airlines; responsibility for regulating airlines will be placed on member states, in a process designed to achieve administrative simplicity. As a result, the UK regulator will be responsible for administering airlines from the UK and other countries, some of whose flights will not pass through UK airspace or land at a UK airport.
	The EU ETS will cap emissions from flights arriving in, or departing from, the EU. Any growth in emissions above that cap will require airlines to pay for equivalent emissions reductions from elsewhere within the scheme, thereby maintaining total emissions below the cap. The UK's reports to the UNFCCC on emissions from bunker fuels would not reflect achievement of the EU ETS cap. The differences between the UNFCCC and EU regimes reflect the different purposes for which they were established.

Aviation: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the financial  (a) incentives and  (b) disincentives to (i) airport operators and (ii) airlines to provide good passenger service.

Rosie Winterton: Currently, airlines compete for customers on a number of factors including price, route and passenger service. They must also comply with the EU regulation on denied boarding, cancellation or long delay of flights (Reg (EC) 261/2004) by providing passengers with the requisite refreshments, accommodation, re-routing or compensation.
	The Secretary of State for Transport announced a review of the economic regulation of airports on 22 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 149-50WS. Among other aims this work will look at how best to provide incentives to improve passenger experience.
	In addition, in November 2007 the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in its capacity as the Government's expert aviation adviser and in accordance with section 16(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, requesting advice on passengers' experience in two areas where responsibility for delivering a good passenger service lies with a combination of bodies. These areas were passage through airports, with particular reference to Terminal 5 at Heathrow, and the resilience of airports to recover from problems such as extreme weather conditions. Work by the CAA is under way.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions her Department and its predecessor instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not held in the form requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether her Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport is committed to achieving the published Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets, which include improving the energy efficiency of its estate by 15 per cent. by 2010 and by 30 per cent. by 2020. The target does not differentiate between rented and owned buildings.
	The Department for Transport can confirm that by 2006-07 its energy efficiency performance had not improved in comparison to our baseline year of 2002-03. However, we fully expect the 2007-08 figures to show an improvement of at least 10 per cent. against the baseline, in the next Sustainable Development Commission annual report. The Department for Transport was formed in its current format under Machinery of Government changes in 2002. We therefore do not have figures prior to financial year 2002-03.
	An initial step towards achieving the SOGE targets was the commissioning of a Carbon Management Energy Efficiency report by the Carbon Trust. This report centred on the five major areas of the Department which will give the highest reduction in Carbon emissions and subsequent improvement in energy efficiency. The Department is currently developing detailed implementation plans from the recommendations of this report.
	Some of the specific steps being taken include:
	The introduction of Smart metering at a number of the departmental sites;
	The aim of achieving Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) "Excellent" rating on all new builds and "Excellent" or "Very Good" ratings for all major refurbishments;
	The adoption of Office of Government Commerce (OGC) "Quick Win" standards as a minimum requirement as part of our sustainable procurement action plan;
	Extending Environmental Management Systems;
	Improving Building Management System controls; and
	Exploring the opportunities for self generated energy.
	In addition the Department for Transport is actively participating in the Display Energy Certificate initiative being implemented by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account her Department takes of the level of energy efficiency of buildings before entering into agreements to  (a) rent and  (b) purchase those buildings.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is committed to purchasing new freehold offices with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A or B and aims to do the same for leased offices wherever practicable.

Departmental Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations have received  (a) free and  (b) discounted room hire from (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the last five years the following organisations have received free accommodation at Department for Transport buildings:
	Benenden Healthcare
	Charities Trust
	Civil Service Benevolent Fund
	Civil Service Healthcare
	Civil Service Motoring Association
	Institute of Civil Engineers
	Medifit Healthcare
	National Blood Service
	PCS Trade Union
	Prospect Trade Union.
	The Driving Standards Agency provided the Friends of Cardington free use of the cinema at the Cardington training facility (Bedford) on 4 July 2008. The commercial value of hiring the cinema for an evening would be £275.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Richard Ley Development Centre (Swansea) offers a Government/public sector 25 per cent. discount rate for use of its facilities. During the last five years the discounted rate has been offered to the following external organisations:
	Arts Council of Wales
	Environment Agency Wales
	Mid and West Wales Fire Service
	National Assembly
	South Wales Police Authority
	Swansea City Council
	Swansea Council for Voluntary Services
	Swansea Local Health Board
	Swansea Local Education Authority.

Departmental Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows:
	 (i) Government Communicators
	The Department does not have a 'communicator' grade. Figures shown are for communications specialists engaged in a range of communications activities including news media, marketing, publicity, strategic communications, internal communications, e-communications and speechwriting. The full-time equivalent (FTE) number employed is estimated as follows using information readily available and dated February 2008.
	
		
			   Estimated communicators February 2008 
			  DFT Central 57.9 
			 DSA 15 
			 DVLA 34.3 
			 GCDA 1 
			 HA 24.8 
			 MCA 5.5 
			 VCA 2.5 
			 VOSA 9 
			  DFT agencies 92.1 
		
	
	The DFT(C) figure is only for relevant staff working in the Department's Communication Directorate. DFT(C) also employs other staff who may perform communication roles but numbers are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 (ii) Government Communication Network
	All civil servants in the Department may register to access services of the Government Communication Network and those in a communication role may become a member and access additional network resources.

Departmental Overtime

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of overtime payments paid to staff in her Department was in each of the last 12 months, broken down by pay grade.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by her Department was from recycled sources in each of the last two years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 1672-73W, for percentage figures relating to 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	The following tables show the percentage of paper containing recycled content used in 2007-08:
	
		
			  Percentage of photocopier paper with recycled content 
			   2007-08 
			 DFT(C) 99.94 
			 DVLA 100 
			 DSA 99 
			 GCDA 100 
			 HA 100 
			 MCA 100 
			 VCA 100 
			 VOSA 99 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of paper with recycled content used in printed publications 
			   2007-08 
			 DFT(C) (1)100 
			 DVLA 91 
			 DSA 100 
			 GCDA 95 
			 HA 100 
			 MCA 100 
			 VCA 100 
			 VOSA 75 
			 (1) Figure refers to publication work carried out by central Communications Directorate only.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in her Department in each of the last three financial years.

Rosie Winterton: The Department reimburses staff only for expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official business. Expenses reimbursed to press officers in the last three financial years are set out as follows where readily available.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 DFT Central 1,776 1,528 4,247 
			 DSA 1,925 1,883 1,620 
			 HA 12,387 13,978 14,568 
			 VOSA 696 859 711 
		
	
	The Highways Agency has seven regional press officers to support its new traffic officer service and seven regional control centres. These press officers are employed to raise awareness of the traffic officers and the agency's role as network operator for England's motorways and major A roads. These press officers have to travel between the regional control centres, outstations and Highways Agency offices, as well as travelling to media opportunities and to accompany journalists during visits to the HA network and premises.
	Press officer activities in most Executive agencies are not carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose. GCDA and VCA have no press officers, and DVLA and MCA are unable to identify press officer reimbursements without disproportionate cost.

Departmental Planning Applications

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Horsham of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1184-86W, on departmental planning applications, what licensing hours the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency  (a) applied for and  (b) was granted.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The times the licence authorises the carrying out of licensable activities is:
	 Supply of Alcohol
	Monday to Saturday—10.00 hours to 23.00 hours
	Sunday—12.00 hours to 22.30 hours
	As far as we are aware this is what the DVLA applied for and was granted.

Departmental Postal Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport actively monitors the cost of its mail services on a regular basis, using the most economical delivery service wherever possible, with the default for outgoing mail being second class post. Listed as follows are some examples of actions undertaken:
	The Highways Agency monitors on a monthly basis locational spend against forecasted expenditure and has also reviewed the internal mail delivery service in order to ensure best value.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has already implemented a combination of software and mechanical sorting equipment to increase the volume of outbound mail discounts. Over the last 12 months DVLA has ensured that mail services contracts have been, managed robustly, and worked closely with Royal Mail and DX Group to ensure effective products have been utilised, and that both volume and price discounts have been maximised.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has undertaken a review of processes and highlighted potential for savings via improved supplier processes and shared best practice. VOSA's business design authority, will, in possession of these data, develop an improvement project which will deliver:
	a single contract supplier of postal services
	a single contract supplier of parcel services
	centralised invoicing for parcels and franking machines
	a best practice guide for all areas
	reduced process costs
	an opportunity to reduce spend by about £100,000.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport will consider on a case by case basis whether requesting a discount for accelerated payment terms is appropriate. However, the department is committed to prompt payment and states that it will pay valid invoices within 30 days of receipt so tenderers base their pricing in the knowledge of swift payment.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums her Department has held in each of the last two years; and what the (i) purpose, (ii) cost, (iii) private contractor and (iv) amount paid to the private contractor was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department engages with the public and its stakeholders on a wide range of subjects in a variety of ways. The Department is committed to further improve its engagement with its stakeholders and with transport users. In this engagement activity, sometimes private sector contractors are used and sometimes not.
	Because of the wide range of engagement carried out by the Department and its agencies, this information is not held centrally.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list  (a) the reviews and  (b) public consultations initiated by her Department since 27 June 2007.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Details of the consultations and reviews initiated by the Department for Transport since 27 June 2007 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Responsibilities

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which projects her Department has commissioned from  (a) think tanks and  (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and the collation of the information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many sick days were taken by employees in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of sick days taken this represented in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport, established in 2002, recorded the following annual returns in respect of sickness absence due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders:
	
		
			   Total days  Stress  Mental health and behavioural  Stress (Percentage)  Mental health and behavioural (Percentage) 
			 2003 164,127.00 13,977.50 23,385.50 8.52 14.25 
			 2004 176,444.00 19,721.00 24,305.00 11.18 13.77 
			 2005 185,137.00 21,916.00 26,679.70 11.84 14.41 
			 2006 190,574.00 19,944.70 28,941.70 10.47 15.19 
			 2007 203,360.00 21,760.30 29,194.80 10.70 14.36 
		
	
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency and The Vehicle Certification Agency could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	The information requested from the Department for Transport's non-governmental bodies can be provided only at disproportionate cost also.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport, established in 2002, recorded the following annual returns in respect of sickness absence due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders:
	
		
			   Number of staff a bsence  for stress  Number of staff absence for mental health/behavioural  Total employees  Stress (Percentage)  Mental health/behavioural (Percentage) 
			 2003 408 511 17,513 2.33 2.92 
			 2004 514 577 19,791 2.60 2.92 
			 2005 637 600 19,418 3.28 3.09 
			 2006 636 715 19,824 3.21 3.61 
			 2007 688 730 20,046 3.43 3.64 
		
	
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency and The Vehicle Certification Agency could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	The information requested from the Department for Transport's non-governmental bodies can be provided only at disproportionate cost also.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility who gave (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence was in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport, established in 2002, recorded the following average periods of sickness for stress and mental health and behavioural disorders related absence.
	
		
			  Stress 
			   Average duration (days) 
			   DfTc  DSA  DVLA  HA  MCA  VOSA 
			 2003 27.3 19.0 24.8 81.0 18.8 33.3 
			 2004 38.8 27.0 27.8 88.9 27.8 26.9 
			 2005 16.3 28.2 27.4 49.2 . 52.6 30.9 
			 2006 20.1 24.2 22.7 55.2 44.2 34.0 
			 2007 34.3 19.6 21.1 43.6 25.6 38.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Mental health and behavioural disorders 
			   Average duration (days) 
			   DfTc  DSA  DVLA  HA  MCA  VOSA 
			 2003 38.9 18.0 44.2 58.1 14.4 29.2 
			 2004 48.9 22.6 31.7 80.0 16.5 24.8 
			 2005 56.5 20.5 35.2 44.7 30.5 33.4 
			 2006 27.0 27.6 33.5 40.5 47.6 35.8 
			 2007 22.1 32.1 25.5 38.3 26.9 35.1 
		
	
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency and The Vehicle Certification Agency could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	The information requested from the Department for Transport's non-governmental bodies can be provided only at disproportionate cost also.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility was in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The central Department and its agencies recorded the following average durations of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Average duration (days) 
			   DfTc  DSA  DVLA  HA  MCA  VOSA 
			 2003 n/a 5.1 6.8 6.0 4.2 5.9 
			 2004 8.5 6.2 7.0 7.0 4.7 5.7 
			 2005 5.4 6.3 7.2 6.0 5.1 6.5 
			 2006 4.6 7.3 7.5 7.0 6.1 7.6 
			 2007 3.8 7.7 7.5 6.0 6.0 8.0 
		
	
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency and The Vehicle Certification Agency could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	The information requested from the Department for Transport's non-governmental bodies can be provided only at disproportionate cost also.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of staff in her Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The Central Department and its agencies recorded the following employees who have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   Number of staff with two or more periods of sickness of less than five days  Number of staff  Percentage of staff 
			 2005 3,431 19,618 17.49 
			 2006 3,206 20,080 15.97 
			 2007 3,309 20,293 16.31 
		
	
	These figures exclude those of the Government Car and Despatch Agency who could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in her Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The Central Department and its agencies recorded 682 employees who have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.
	This figure excludes the Government Car and Despatch Agency who could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in  (a) her Department ,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have received sick pay for sick leave due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what the average length of time was for which sick pay was paid in these cases; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate.

Departmental Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department travelled (i) by car, (ii) by rail and (iii) by air on Government business in each year since her Department's formation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 The information is not available in the form requested.

Driving Tests: Vetting

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were removed from the approved driving instructors register following a criminal conviction for a sexual offence in each of the last two years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 17 July 2008
	In February 2007, the Home Office added the profession of 'driving instructor' to its Notifiable Occupation Scheme. This means that the Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors should be notified by the police when an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) is convicted of an offence and therefore has an early opportunity to take appropriate action.
	Since March 2007, Potential Driving Instructors (PDIs) have been required to undergo criminal records checks when applying to start the qualifying process. At the same time, the Driving Standards Agency began checking criminal records of existing ADIs.
	From October 2007 ADIs applying to re-register or renew their registration have had to undergo criminal records checks. (This system was in full operation by April 2008).
	Eight ADIs have been removed from the register since March 2007 as a result of a criminal records check revealing a conviction for a sexual offence.
	Information on ADIs removed from the register as a result of a conviction for a sexual offence where identification of the offence was not the result of a criminal records check could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Driving Under The Influence

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the proposals by the Government's Chief Medical Officer that a zero alcoholic drink driving limit should be set for drivers under the age of 20 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We have made no specific evaluation of this proposal, but the Government do not consider it feasible to introduce a zero alcohol limit for drivers of any age because it is possible for some alcohol to be present in the body from sources other than alcoholic drinks.
	We are currently considering a range of options to make further progress in tackling drink driving and intend to publish a consultation document in the next few months.

East Coast Railway Line

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the performance of rail services on the East Coast Main Line; and if she will review the National Express franchise against that assessment.

Rosie Winterton: The Franchise Agreement specifies performance benchmarks which are continuously monitored by the Department for Transport. National Express East Coast is currently meeting its contracted commitments.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the environmental effects of modal shift arising from the creation of a new high-speed rail line to run alongside the current route of the  (a) West and  (b) East Coast Main Line.

Tom Harris: In developing the July 2007 rail White Paper Delivering a Sustainable Railway, the Department for Transport commissioned work on various inter-urban capacity options. One element of this work sought to establish how much shift from air to rail would be needed to make up for the emissions generated by a high speed line. It concluded that the scale of the transfer required depended on the route of a new line.
	The recently announced Network Rail New Lines Programme, in examining options for increasing rail capacity, will assess the likely transfer of passengers to any new line. It will also consider whether if there is a need for new lines in the future and whether it would make sense to design these for conventional or high speed use.

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which her Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mayor of London

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings she had with the Mayor of London in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State has had three meetings in total with the Mayor of London in the last 12 months. For clarity, two of these were with the former Mayor and the other was with the present Mayor.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 538W to the hon. Member for Romsey, on cars: Hampshire, what the information is on car registrations in each local authority in the United Kingdom.

Tom Harris: A table showing the numbers of licensed cars at the end of 2007 registered in each local authority in Great Britain with carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to the present Band F (186 to 225 g/km) and Band G (over 225 g/km) has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Figures are not held centrally for Northern Ireland.

Motor Vehicles: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will develop policies to assist rural motorists who have no alternative to car transport in areas where petrol prices are particularly high.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in response to the same question on 22 July 2008 (UIN 219135).

Motorway Service Areas: Public Lavatories

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department provides on the  (a) provision and  (b) cleanliness of public toilets at motorway service areas.

Rosie Winterton: Department for Transport Circular 01/2008 requires motorway service area operators to provide toilets and hand washing facilities for all road users, free of charge, every day of the year. The number of toilets operators are required to provide is linked to the traffic flow on the motorway which the facility serves.
	Circular 01/2008 encourages motorway service area operators to comply with the Charter of the British Toilet Association.

Parking: Fines

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will establish a mechanism whereby members of the public can request independent investigation of car park operating companies in respect of  (a) alleged breaches of the relevant code of practice and  (b) appeals against the issuing of parking fines.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State has no power to establish such a mechanism relating to the use of private land for parking.
	The independent British Parking Association publishes the voluntary code of practice for car park operating companies. Details are on the Association's website at:
	www.britishparking.co.uk
	I am aware that the Home Office and the Security Industry Authority are currently considering the regulation of companies involved in vehicle immobilisation on private land.

Railways: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure an increase in the  (a) number of trains stopping per day and  (b) number of carriages per train stopping at (i) Chorley and (ii) Adlington.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently no plans to increase the level of services calling at Adlington. However, from December, First TransPennine Express will provide one additional service to Manchester calling at Chorley, together with additional capacity on two evening services.

Tamworth to Birmingham Railway Line

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to facilitate an increase in the number of trains travelling between Tamworth and Birmingham.

Rosie Winterton: The service planned by Arriva Trains Cross Country (ATCC) to operate from 14 December 2008 complies with the Department for Transport's specification for services on this route.
	From this date, ATCC will provide a half-hourly service between Birmingham and Tamworth as part of the half-hourly Birmingham—Nottingham service, supplemented by one call every two hours in the Plymouth—Edinburgh service.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many allotments there are in each local authority area in Gloucestershire.

Iain Wright: We do not require local authorities to provide figures for the number of allotments in their area, so it is not possible to easily provide the answer. Allotments can be in the control of many different parties: borough, district, parish, town councils, church bodies and private societies.
	However, we have been able to obtain some information, which is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Authority  Findings 
			 Gloucester City Council 11 sites found on web, unable to find information on number of plots. 
			 Tewkesbury BC No information available. 
			 Cheltenham BC 18 sites: Two church owned, one with unknown number of plots and one with ten. One private site with 80 plots. Remaining 15 sites contain 810 plots. 
			 Cotswold DC Allotments are managed by town and parish councils, no central data available. 
			 Gloucestershire County Council No reply within available time. 
			 Forest of Dean DC Allotments are managed by town and parish councils, no central data available. 
			 Stroud DC Allotments are managed by town and parish councils, no central data available.

Arm's Length Management Organisations

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation a local authority is required to undertake before any significant change is made to management arrangements with an arm's length management organisation; what consultation is required before an arm's length management organisation is established; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Under s105 of the Housing Act 1985 local authorities are required to consult with their tenants on any significant change in housing management arrangements. We would expect any such consultation to be as comprehensive as that undertaken to set up the ALMO. Tenants will have been fully involved in the decision to set up an ALMO, both as part of the options appraisal process and the consultation on the ALMO option itself.
	We debated during passage of the Housing and Regeneration Bill whether a statutory ballot of tenants should be part of this consultation process. I did pledge during the passage of the Bill, that, although I disagreed with the amendments relating to this topic, when we look at the renewal of guidance, we might need to look at this issue again.

Arm's Length Management Organisations

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she issues to local authorities on the resolution of failings in an arm's length management organisation through discussions between the organisation and the Audit Commission.

Iain Wright: Departmental ALMO guidance, updated in June 2006, and the "Review of Arms Length Management Organisations", also published in June 2006 together with two other relevant documents, the "ALMO re-inspection framework", and the "ALMO support framework" set out the Department's expectations around failing services in ALMOs.
	The Audit Commission is one of a range of stakeholders who may be able to offer help should performance be an issue of concern to either the parent local authority or the ALMO itself. Local authorities can request this assistance on behalf of their ALMOs. The Commission has experience of offering such services to a wide range of local housing authorities that are looking at ways to improve their performance.
	The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 establishes the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). Initially, the TSA will only regulate housing associations but the Bill includes an enabling power to allow it to regulate across the social housing domain via secondary legislation. In the longer term ALMOs will, via their parent local authority, be subject to the same regulatory regime as all social housing providers.

Carers

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to paragraph 3.11 in the Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities report, how much of the £150 million funding for breaks for carers of disabled children will be provided by her Department over each of the next two years.

John Healey: Resources for breaks for carers will be made available by the Department of Health.

Community Relations: Extremism

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what forums on extremism have been established by her Department in the last five years.

John Healey: Forums on extremism established since the commitment made in the 2006 Local Government White Paper, were listed in an answer given to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Goodman) on 30 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 619-20W. However, we recognise that local partners need arrangements suited to the needs and circumstances of their areas and that there are many approaches that can be adopted to engage effectively with communities. Many areas are taking forward alternative arrangements that involve forums which tackle broader issues linked to preventing extremism, some of which were listed in the answer of 30 June.

Council Housing: Offenders

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1629W, on council housing: offenders, what advice has been given on housing such individuals near residential areas with family dwellings.

Iain Wright: Relevant advice was included in guidance issued to local housing authorities in November 1999 about their role in the management of risks presented by sex offenders. This was placed in the Library of the House in November 2000.

Council Housing: Offenders

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1629W, on council housing: offenders, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter to the housing authorities.

Iain Wright: A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what guidance has been provided to local authorities on the application of the Limitation Act 1980 to repayments by local billing authorities for council tax bills in cases where there has been an error in the banding of a domestic dwelling;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on the limiting of backdated claims for over-paid council tax in cases where the domestic property was incorrectly banded by the Valuation Office Agency.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government has issued no guidance to local authorities on this matter. Decisions about the payment of backdated claims for over-paid council tax are a matter for individual billing authorities.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether her Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years.

Caroline Flint: The Department's policy on improving energy efficiency of the buildings it rents and owns is included in its Sustainable Operations Policy, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House.
	Numerous changes have been made to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings occupied over the last five to 10 years. Our records do not identify the years during this period in which specific measures were taken.
	In 2006-07, the Department reported an energy efficiency improvement of 4 per cent. and 18 per cent. in the buildings occupied by its London HQ and its Executive agencies respectively, compared to 2002-03 levels.
	The Department has mandatory energy efficiency targets which apply to all central Government Departments and their Executive agencies. These targets for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate require the Department to:
	increase energy efficiency per m(2 )by 15 per cent. by 2010 and by 30 per cent. by 2020, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and
	reduce carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, and by 30 per cent. by 2020 relative to 1999-2000 levels.
	The Department also intends to act upon those opportunities identified in the Advisory Reports for its Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates as a further means to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings it rents and owns.

Departmental ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information technology projects initiated by her Department and its predecessors have been cancelled prior to completion in the last five years; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable), of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1644W. The Department has nothing further to report by way of cancelled information technology projects since.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in her Department and its agencies in each of the last three financial years.

Caroline Flint: The amount claimed in travel and subsistence by press officers in the Department and its predecessor Department, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, for each of the financial years has been:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2005-06 (1)3,951 
			 2006-07 3,022 
			 2007-08 2,676 
			 (1) ODPM

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Iain Wright: The primary Departmental Procurement Policy is to achieve value for money.
	Procurement therefore considers a range of measures to achieve value for money, including the attainment of discounts in return for prompter payment of invoices.

Departmental Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead, of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1499-1500W, on departmental publication participation, if she will place in the Library a copy of the research and reports produced in relation to  (a) the code for sustainable homes,  (b) home information packs,  (c) accountability of local services and  (d) employee engagement workshop.

Caroline Flint: The following have been placed in the Library:
	Code for Sustainable Homes, trade interviews
	Home Information Packs, attitudes among buyers, sellers and estate agents
	Accountability of Local Government Services omnibus poll, tables of the responses
	Employee Engagement workshop: The workshop was part of a wider employment engagement survey with the Cabinet Office. The workshop outcomes were debriefed verbally to the Cabinet Office as an aid to the design of the questionnaire for the survey.

Eco-towns: Nature Conservation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  by what means the Eco Towns Challenge Panels plans to take account of expertise in biodiversity and wildlife management and protection in the course of its work;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the establishment and development of eco-towns does not undermine the preservation and protection of biodiversity.

Caroline Flint: The preservation of important wildlife and landscape assets is one of the key criteria for new eco-towns. The Eco-town Challenge Panel is an independent group of people with expertise in various aspects of urban and sustainable development. The Panel exists to encourage bidders by challenging them to improve and develop their proposals to the point where they can be regarded as truly exemplary projects, which fit well within their surroundings, demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainable development and represent a 'step change' beyond what would currently be regarded as best practice. Of the members of the Challenge Panel, three are experts in environmental issues.
	Natural England, Government's agency working to conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment, was fully involved in the initial assessment and shortlisting of the eco-town proposals. Furthermore, there will shortly be a second Government consultation on a sustainability appraisal, which provides a more detailed assessment of locations, and a draft Planning Policy Statement, before we identify a final list. These locations will then need to go through the planning process and be subject to full public scrutiny, where impacts on biodiversity and natural assets will be key considerations at all stages.
	The sustainability appraisal will consider the environmental, economic and social impacts of eco-towns policy both nationally and in the proposed locations. This will take account of work that local authorities may have already undertaken to test development options in their area and as part of the testing process we will also consider the habitats directive.

Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what reports her Department has received of cases of intentional property demolition to avoid empty property business rates in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1637W, on non-domestic rates: empty property, if she will list each of the possible incidences reported to her Department, including the location and the nature of the alleged deliberate dilapidation.

John Healey: As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1637W, the Government have asked local authorities to provide information about how reforms to the empty property rate are working. The information provided will be based on the informed judgment of individual local authority officers and is being gathered as a broad indicator of the scale of possible avoidance activity and not a detailed survey. We will set out in an appropriate form our general findings in due course.

Housing

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes are planned to be built in  (a) North Northamptonshire and  (b) England in the next five years.

Caroline Flint: Over 2008-12, the adopted East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy sets out plans for 13,405 net additional dwellings in North Northamptonshire. Regional Spatial Strategies are currently under review to ensure delivery against the national target of 240,000 additional homes a year by 2016, as set out in last year's housing Green Paper.

Housing: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the housing density is of Bournemouth.

Iain Wright: Information on housing density is not compiled centrally.
	We do however have the density of new build dwellings averaged over a four-year period. These are provided at local authority level on the CLG website in Live table P232. The web address for Live table P232 is:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/plariningandbuilding/xls/822906.xls
	The average density of new build dwellings for the period 2003 to 2006 for the unitary authority of Bournemouth was 70 dwellings per hectare.

Housing: Construction

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local planning authorities can meet their house building targets by proposing development of land in other counties; and what powers they have of compulsory purchase in such circumstances.

Iain Wright: holding answer 22 July 2008
	The regional strategy preparation process, which involves input from local authorities, sets housing numbers for districts. These take into account the need and demand for housing within housing market areas and the strategic availability of land within individual districts. Therefore these numbers should be planned for by individual districts but we encourage joint working between districts in doing this.
	The Local Government Act 1972 gives local authorities a qualified right to purchase land compulsorily outside their areas. Whether this is possible in any given case will depend on the specific enabling power to be used.

Housing: Immigrants

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of economic migrants entering the UK in each of the last five years have been housed in the  (a) owner-occupied,  (b) social rented and  (c) private rented sector.

Iain Wright: Information on the current housing tenure of economic migrants who entered the UK during the past five years is not available.
	However, the Department has information from the Survey of English Housing for 2005-06 and 2006-07 on the total number of recent migrant householders by housing tenure. It is estimated that of all migrant householders who arrived in the UK during the past two years and are currently living in England: 3 per cent. are in owner occupation; 7 per cent. are in the social rented sector; and 90 per cent. are in the private rented sector.

Housing: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to assist first-time buyers with property purchase; and which of these are available to those seeking to buy property in West Lancashire constituency.

Iain Wright: The Government's Low Cost Home Ownership programme helps to make home ownership more affordable to first time buyers, and enables purchasers get a foot on the property ladder through its HomeBuy products: New Build HomeBuy, Open Market HomeBuy and Social HomeBuy.
	New Build HomeBuy enables people to buy a minimum 25 per cent. share of a newly built property, paying a rent on the remainder. This includes the First Time Buyers Initiative.
	Open Market HomeBuy enables people to buy a property on the open market with the help of an equity loan of up to 50 per cent.
	Social HomeBuy enables tenants of participating local authorities and housing associations to buy a minimum 25 per cent. in their current home at a discount and pay rent on the remainder.
	We have helped over 65,000 people into home ownership over the last three years, and as set out in the Housing Green Paper, we aim to help 75,000 more householders on to the property ladder over the next three years. The Government have recently announced a package of new initiatives to help more first time buyers, nationally, into affordable home ownership.
	From 1 April two new equity loan products have been available through the Government's Open Market HomeBuy scheme. The loans provide first time buyers with more flexibility in the percentage of the value of their home that can be borrowedto a maximum of 50 per cent., and more choice in the mortgage they can take out.
	A new cash grant of 1,500 is available to the first 2000 purchasers who take-up the new equity loans to help with the costs of purchasing their first home. From 14 May we:
	expanded the Open Market HomeBuy scheme to help 2,500 first time buyers to purchase a new build home in 2008-09;
	introduced flexibility for purchasing unsold stock from housebuilders for social rent or low cost home ownership;
	expanded the flexibility criteria so that all first time buyers with a household income under 60,000 will be eligible for our HomeBuy scheme.
	Finally, last week we announced a new 'Rent to HomeBuy' scheme to support first time buyers into affordable home ownership by renting first and buying later.
	Our Low Cost Home Ownership products, including the recent package of new initiatives, are available to first time buyers in West Lancashire.

Housing: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District which were heated by (i) gas and (ii) electricity in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Data are not available for Leeds, West constituency but the Department publishes new build completions by district on its website. The number of new build completions as reported for the Leeds local authority area in 2007-08 is 3,052. The Department's statistics for new home completions do not include details of the form of heating used.

Housing: Low Incomes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of social housing in each London borough is not of Decent Homes standard.

Iain Wright: The Department collects information on non-decent social sector homes from local authorities through the Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) annual return. Figures are provided in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Non-decent homes owned by local authorities( 1)  at 1 April 2007, by London borough 
			   Non-decent homes  Percentage of total local authority stock non-decent 
			 Barking and Dagenham 6,727 34.2 
			 Barnet 3,388 30.5 
			 Bexley (2) (2) 
			 Brent 0 0.0 
			 Bromley (2) (2) 
			 Camden 11,321 47.7 
			 City of London 679 35.9 
			 Croydon 2,117 15.0 
			 Ealing 4,439 32.1 
			 Enfield 2,864 24.1 
			 Greenwich 9,446 38.2 
			 Hackney 8,776 37.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,183 31.7 
			 Haringey 7,099 42.7 
			 Harrow 3,680 72.5 
			 Havering 3,397 31.4 
			 Hillingdon 918 8.6 
			 Hounslow 0 0.0 
			 Islington 11,996 44.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,657 23.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,129 23.2 
			 Lambeth 8,528 29.2 
			 Lewisham 12,152 46.8 
			 Merton 1,289 20.1 
			 Newham 10,842 58.1 
			 Redbridge 1,357 28.8 
			 Richmond upon Thames (2) (2) 
			 Southwark 13,608 33.1 
			 Sutton 4,088 56.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 9,257 59.0 
			 Waltham Forest 6,846 64.4 
			 Wandsworth 138 0.8 
			 Westminster 0 0.0 
			 (1 )Retention authorities and Arm's Length Management Organisations only.  (2) LSVTLarge Scale Voluntary Transfer. One of the three options set out by Government for those authorities that need extra funding to meet the required Decent Homes standard. LSVT aims to deliver improved performance and services ensuring the extra money is spent cost-effectively. The council is free to focus on more strategic housing functions.   Source:  Communities and Local Government Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA). 
		
	
	These data are published by Communities and Local Government and can be obtained from the Department's website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/localauthorityhousing/dataforms/357553/databyregion/
	Equivalent figures for registered social landlords (RSLs) are displayed in Table 2. These figures are published and available on the Housing Corporation's website:
	http://www.rsrsurvey.co.uk/
	
		
			  Table 2 : Non-decent homes owned by RSL s at 31 March 2007, by London borough 
			   Non-decent homes  Percentage of total stock non-decent 
			 Barking and Dagenham 67 2.1 
			 Barnet 444 6.5 
			 Bexley 1,216 9.5 
			 Brent 949 6.5 
			 Bromley 4,348 23.7 
			 Camden 757 7.0 
			 City of London 52 9.6 
			 Croydon 1,073 10.9 
			 Ealing 398 4.1 
			 Enfield 483 7.4 
			 Greenwich 1,470 13.8 
			 Hackney 1,033 4.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,319 10.7 
			 Haringey 1,333 12.7 
			 Harrow 328 9.1 
			 Havering 194 8.3 
			 Hillingdon 254 4.6 
			 Hounslow 650 9.9 
			 Islington 1,546 11.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,611 12.1 
			 Kingston upon Thames 110 4.7 
			 Lambeth 4,372 21.6 
			 Lewisham 1,380 12.6 
			 Merton 268 5.7 
			 Newham 912 7.8 
			 Redbridge 302 6.6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 662 6.8 
			 Southwark 1,464 10.2 
			 Sutton 280 7.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,974 16.6 
			 Waltham Forest 828 7.8 
			 Wandsworth 956 9.7 
			 Westminster 1,703 10.8 
			  Source:  Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR) Part O.

Housing: Standards

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will incorporate accessible housing standards into her definition of sustainable communities.

Caroline Flint: Accessible housing is already reflected in our current definition of a sustainable community which includes a place that is inclusive to all and meets the diverse needs of all residents. Our commitment to this is reflected in our national planning policy in Planning Policy Statement 3 (Housing) which is clear about creating places, streets and spaces which are inclusive and respect the diverse needs of communities and the special needs of particular sectors of the community.
	In February 2008, we published, Lifetime Homes. Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society, which sets out a clear strategy for encouraging the development of 'Lifetime Homes Standards' (LHS). LHS aim to make housing accessible for all by making it more functional for everyone including families, disabled and older people and adaptable to peoples changing circumstances throughout the whole lifetime of the home. Our aspiration is to see all homes built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2013 and we will ensure that all publicly funded housing is built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2011. It is currently a mandatory element of the Code for Sustainable Homes at code level 6 and will become mandatory at code levels 4 and 5 from 2010 and code level 3 from 2013. We will continue to work with stakeholders to encourage take up of the standards across all sectors and progress will be reviewed in 2010.

Local Government: Administration

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the introduction of new leadership models in local government by  (a) tier and  (b) type of council.

John Healey: The timetable, specified by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, for the introduction of new leadership models in local government, provides that in any council with the old style leader and cabinet model, the new model must be implemented three days after the ordinary election day in the year shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Type of local authority  Year for introduction  of new model 
			 County council 2009 
			 Metropolitan district council 2010 
			 London borough council 2010 
			 Non-metropolitan district council 2011 
		
	
	The Act also provides that a council operating the mayor and council manager model must implement a new leadership model in 2009, and that councils operating alternative arrangements may choose to adopt a new leadership model and introduce it in 2011.
	In addition, where a council is introducing a new leadership model following a referendum, the model is implemented three days after the first ordinary election of councillors to the authority held after the council resolves to adopt the model, which must be within 28 days of the referendum being held.

Local Government: Contracts

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Office of Government Commerce monitors local authorities' compliance with its relevant codes of practice during the tendering process for local government contracts.

John Healey: Subject to their legal duties local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions. In doing so, they must work within the legal framework governing public procurement. They also have regard to policy and guidance on public procurement set out by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), as appropriate. The OGC does not directly monitor local authorities' compliance with the legal framework or with its policy and guidance.

Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1361W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, how sub-location is quantified; and what geo-spatial datasets and neighbourhood modelling is used for  (a) business rate valuations and revaluations and  (b) the new Automated Valuation Model for business rates.

John Healey: A sub-location for a class of property for non-domestic rating is an area within which values are related and a valuation scheme can be applied. They vary in size depending on class of property and locality. The geo-spatial datasets used for non-domestic rating and revaluations are (i) Property Address and Postcode and (ii) Sublocation.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1301W. A new automated valuation (AVM) model is not being used by the VOA for business rate valuations or revaluations.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial assistance from the public purse is available to individuals who wish to challenge planning decisions.

Iain Wright: There is no financial assistance from the public purse available to individuals wishing to appeal against planning decisions to the Secretary of State or third parties wishing to put forward representations in relation to these appeals. In these cases, parties are expected to meet their own costs.
	Although it does not provide financial assistance, Planning Aid offers free, independent planning advice to individuals and community groups (including small charities, voluntary groups and tenants' organisations).
	Individuals who wish to challenge planning decisions in the courts may be able to receive financial assistance from Legal Aid, if they are eligible to do so.

Regional Planning and Development: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the expenditure of  (a) regional assemblies and  (b) the English regions network was in 2007-08.

John Healey: Central Government grant to regional assemblies in 2007-08 was 21,192,290. Grant to the English Regions Network was 244,000. Most regional assemblies receive additional funding through local authority member subscriptions. Total expenditure will be reflected in their published accounts.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department and its agencies have given to local authorities on the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for planning enforcement purposes.

Iain Wright: None. Local authorities' access to communications data and use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources is governed by secondary legislation made under the 2000 Act. This restricts local council access and use of these techniques to the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or disorder in the carrying out of their functions. RIPA requires that their use is necessary and proportionate with regard to human rights and that the information they are designed to obtain cannot be obtained by less intrusive means.

Valuation Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the minutes of the Valuation Office Agency local authority liaison group meeting of 17 May 2007, if she will place in the Library copies of each edition of the BA Newsletter from the last 36 months.

John Healey: These IT Newsletters to Billing Authorities are available on the Valuation Office Agency website www.voa.gov.uk.

Valuation Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's E-Bars Project Post Implementation Review report as sent to members of the local authority liaison group.

John Healey: A copy of the Electronic BA Reports (E-BARS) Post Implementation Review Report has been placed in the Library.

Valuation Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the Valuation Office Agency local authority liaison group meeting of 23 July 2008 when they are available.

John Healey: Minutes of the Local Authority Liaison Group meetings are already available on the VOA website at
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/index.htm.

Valuation Office: Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 54 of the Valuation Office Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08, HC 583, to which organisations council tax information is sold; and what categories of property data is sold.

John Healey: All of the income from Sale of Rating/Council Tax information reported on Page 54 of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 is derived from the sale of compilations of the published non domestic rating list and summary valuation data.

Valuation Office: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1365W, on Valuation Office: databases, whether the property information being scanned in includes  (a) the plot size of a property,  (b) dimensions of gardens and  (c) internal layouts of domestic dwellings.

John Healey: Such information is included in the scanning only to the extent that it appears on the hard-copy record being scanned. This may include details about the internal layout of dwellings but it is rare for information about plot size and/or the dimensions of gardens to feature in individual records.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Business: Expenditure

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Office of National Statistics' survey into business spending cost; what the cost per question was; how many responses have been received; and what action is being  (a) taken and  (b) planned as a result of the survey.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell ,  dated 1 September 2008:
	As national statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning how much the ONS Business Spending on Capital Items Survey (BSCIS) cost; what the cost per question was; how many responses have been received; and what action is being  (a) taken and  (b) planned as a result of the survey.
	(218590)
	The BSCIS is one of the measures introduced by ONS to improve the quality of official statistics as part of the departmental spending review (DSR) package of surveys agreed in 1998-99. The survey was set up to monitor spending on capital expenditure in more detail. It is a small annual survey consisting of a sample of 2,500 businesses covering most sectors of the economy. Questionnaires are not sent to businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
	
		
			  Table of survey information: 
			   Number 
			 Questionnaires sent per year 2,500 
			 Questionnaires received per year (Approx 80 per cent. response) 2,000 
			 Questions per questionnaire 101 
		
	
	
		
			  Table of survey costs 
			   Total  To business  To ONS 
			 Cost per survey(1) ('000) 270 140 130 
			 Cost per questionnaire () 105 55 50 
			 Cost per question () 1.0 0.5 0.5 
			 (1) Business cost as published for 2006-07 
		
	
	The information collected from the BSCIS is used to improve the estimate of gross domestic product (GDP). The information is used to break down capital expenditure estimates to a product level to allow more accurate deflation, seasonal adjustment and supply-use balancing of the national accounts. There is no alternative data source that can be used to produce the consistent and coherent detail required.
	The results from the survey are published in January of each year on the ONS website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8167Pos=lCoIRank=lRank=272

Cancer: Buckinghamshire

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were diagnosed with cancer in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were diagnosed with cancer in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of cancer are for the year 2005. Figures requested are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of cancer( 1)  registered in Milton Keynes unitary authority and Buckinghamshire county, 2001 to 2005 
			  Persons 
			   Milton Keynes  Buckinghamshire 
			 2001 837 2,149 
			 2002 793 2,170 
			 2003 779 2,171 
			 2004 915 2,340 
			 2005 820 2,236 
			 (1) All cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, are classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10): C00-C97 excluding C44  Source: Office for National Statistics

Civil Service: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish the 2007-08 resource accounts for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Tom Watson: The 2007-08 Resource Accounts for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme will be laid after the House returns in the autumn.

Cost of Living

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the average increase in  (a) fuel prices,  (b) food prices,  (c) house prices and  (d) salary in each English region in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the average increase in (a) fuel prices, (b) food prices, (c) house prices and (d) salary in each English region in each of the last five years. (219579)
	Fuel and food prices for items included in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) are collected each month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Estimates are not produced at a regional level. Average increases at a national level for the last five years can be found at the following link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/tsdtablesl.asp?vlnk=mm23
	Average increases in house prices are recorded and published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). This information can be found via Live Table 593 at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housingmarket/livetables/
	Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	A table showing the percentage increase in median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in each English region for the years 2003-2007 is attached. A table giving mixed-adjusted house price inflation is available from the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Percentage increase in median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in each Engl ish region for the years 2003- 07 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and The Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West 
			 2003 1 3 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 
			 2004 7 5 5 3 5 4 5 4 3 
			 2005 4 3 2 6 3 2 3 1 2 
			 2006 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 
			 2007 2 4 3 0 4 2 2 3 3 
			  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaby of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1569-70W, on cost of living, what assessment the UK Statistics Authority has made of the effect of higher council tax on the cost of living since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 1 September 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking what assessment has been made of the effects of council tax on the cost of living since 1997. (221284)
	Retail Prices Index (RPI) and the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), both measure the change in the prices of goods and services bought for the purpose of consumption by the vast majority of households in the UK. Of these the RPI is the only measure which includes council tax and rates.
	For the period between June 1997 and June 2008 the council tax and rates increased by 95.9 per cent. Over the same period the RPI increased by 37.7 per cent.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what measures are in place in the Cabinet Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes;
	(2)  what purchasing process is used by his Department for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Phil Hope: All proposals to purchase alcohol for hospitality purposes need the prior approval pf the Cabinet Office Finance Director. The purchase of alcohol, which may be via the Government Procurement Card, by invoice or by a staff claim is monitored by the Cabinet Office Financial Management Team.

Departmental Energy Efficiency

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether his Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years.

Tom Watson: The Department's energy policy is to meet the sustainable operations in government SOGE targets and ensure value for money.
	The Cabinet Office has participated in the Carbon Trust Carbon Management programme for all buildings that it has influence or control over. It has developed an ongoing action plan which includes projects such as installing lighting controls and improving insulation.
	Any major refurbishment or new build the Cabinet Office undertakes will endeavour to meet BREEAM excellent standard wherever this is possible in the context of the historic listed nature of much of the Department's estate.
	It currently purchases either green or CHP energy for all its buildings.

Departmental Energy Efficiency

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what account his Department takes of the level of energy efficiency of buildings before entering into agreements to  (a) rent and  (b) purchase those buildings.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office has no plans to acquire any new freehold or leased property. In the event that this was to be considered energy efficiency would be an important factor in the decision-making process.

Departmental ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information technology projects initiated by his Department have been cancelled prior to completion in the last five years; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office initiated one major IT project that was cancelled prior to completion in the last five years. For information regarding this project I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) on 14 December 2005,  Official Report, columns 2057-58W, by the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy).
	In respect of the SCOPE Programme I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 6 November 2006,  Official Report, column 862W by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Hilary Armstrong). However, we have recently informed the Phase 2 contractor of SCOPE that a different approach to the delivery of those capabilities is needed.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office's records do not distinguish the cost of internet web design and hosting; and print media design from our overall budget. This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Significant advertising campaigns in support of specific policies are managed centrally through Cabinet Office Communications and placed through the Central Office of Information (COI).
	Details of campaigns involved broadcast media are shown in the following table:
	
		
			
			  Preparing for Emergencies 2004-05  
			 Gross television airtime budget 2,009,550 
			 Gross radio airtime budget 532,606 
			   
			  Direct GovConsumer Campaign  
			 Gross television airtime budget 2005-06 343,869

Departmental Overtime

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost of overtime payments paid to staff in his Department was in each of the last 12 months, broken down by pay grade.

Tom Watson: The cost of overtime payments paid to Cabinet Office staff in each of the last 12 months broken down by grade is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			   
			   2007  2008 
			   Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun 
			 A 14,541 16,392 4,368 8,917 15,585 14,293 10,833 9,823 10,704 12,981 9,882 10,200 
			 B2 12,237 10,859 10,501 11,361 21,696 14,163 20,254 13,585 17,423 17,364 14,543 17,136 
			 B-Fst 1,973 1,709 2,604 1,261 2,338 3,154 2,611 3,334 3,897 1,998 1,915 2,749 
			 B1 27,547 27,480 20,791 20,669 41,266 29,857 30,011 28,669 33,449 31,015 33,220 34,265 
			 C 21,778 22,508 23,044 19,635 24,575 21,218 26,278 19,269 22,186 21,560 24,043 29,453 
			 TIS 13,425 14,264 16,010 12,381 13,234 12,223 14,635 12,053 11,496 14,335 9,647 13,173

Departmental Overtime

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hours of overtime were worked by staff in each pay grade in the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. The number of hours overtime worked by the Cabinet Office staff in each month from April 2007 to March 2008 broken down by grade is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			   2007  2008 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			 A 954 781 733 1,457 1,025 781 585 1,217 662 937 1,144 1,239 
			 B2 1,481 1,212 1,387 1,842 1,858 1,283 1,345 1,918 1,387 883 1,948 1,538 
			 B-Fst 160 141 212 243 121 31 210 597 215 337 296 288 
			 B1 2,192 1,800 2,143 2,658 2,881 1,821 1,940 2,457 2,370 1,621 2,510 2,506 
			 C 1,352 1,704 1,929 2,040 1,985 1,882 1,530 2,311 1,815 1,691 1,852 1,729 
			 TIS 855 724 710 877 880 505 697 889 538 428 675 785

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what externally accredited qualifications are included in the development programme available to Government Communication Network members.

Tom Watson: There are no externally accredited qualifications included in the development programme.

National School of Government

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much remuneration  (a) Cabinet Ministers,  (b) Ministers of State,  (c) Parliamentary Under-Secretaries and  (d) Parliamentary Private Secretaries received in respect of lectures given to the National School of Government and its predecessors in each of the last 10 years, broken down by department.

Tom Watson: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National School of Government. I have asked the National School's Chief Executive and Principal to reply.
	 Letter from Robin Ryde, dated 28 July 2008:
	In the Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 9 January 2007 (Official Report Col 5WS), the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Pat McFadden MP) announced that the National School of Government was now a Non Ministerial Department. Consequently, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the National School of Government.
	No serving Ministers (Secretaries of State, Ministers of State or Parliamentary Secretaries) have been paid to contribute to events run by the National School since its establishment in 2005. This is also true for predecessor organisations for the period 1998-2005.
	No Parliamentary Private Secretaries have been paid to contribute to events run by the National School since its establishment in 2005. The then Civil Service College paid 120 to one Parliamentary Private Secretary to contribute to a course in 1999. This is the only instance of which we are aware in 1998-2005.

Voluntary Organisations: Learning Disability

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the potential contribution that third sector organisations can make to the delivery of public services for those with learning difficulties.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The extensive consultation we carried out for Valuing People Now included members of the public and third sector organisations. We are planning to publish the final Valuing People Now in the autumn after everybody's responses have been fully considered. This policy is in line with the Department's work to promote a greater plurality of provision (including service providers from the third sector) to increase capacity, encourage innovation, improve user responsiveness and ultimately improve health and wellbeing.
	A great deal of work has been undertaken by the Department to remove barriers to third sector organisations entering the market and ensuring that there is a fairer playing field through the work of the Third Sector Commissioning Taskforce.
	The National Director for Learning Disabilities chairs the learning disability task force, which includes representatives of the nation forum for people with learning disabilities and key third sector groups, including MENCAP.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Foreign Companies

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has made an estimate of the number of foreign-owned businesses in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of foreign-owned businesses in the United Kingdom. (217550)
	At March 2007 there were approximately 25,400 enterprises live in the UK owned by a foreign company. This estimate is taken from the UK response to the 2007 Eurostat Registers Questionnaire, submitted to the European Commission. Analysis is based on the national identity of the ultimate owner of an enterprise group.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Drugs

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of illegal drugs seized by British troops in Afghanistan in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Afghan authorities have the lead for counter-narcotic activity, but under the terms of the current NATO Operational Plan (OPLAN), ISAF forces may support them, including through support to interdiction operations. ISAF forces hand over any drugs, associated equipment, and traffickers to the Afghan authorities at the earliest possible opportunity.
	In the absence of any ISAF requirement to record details of narcotic seizures, UK forces have to date not retained a central record of drug seizures, and any attempt to provide one would come at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 62W on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what types of projects were covered by the term 'other' in the table; and whether each project is completed, ongoing or planned.

Bob Ainsworth: The projects listed as 'other' in my previous answer referred to projects involving bridge construction, bazaar regeneration, water towers, repair or construction of Government buildings, repair or provision of essential services, and projects aimed at supporting social and economic development. Of these projects, 61 per cent. are completed, 10 per cent. are on-going and 29 per cent. are planned.
	In researching this answer it was identified that the table in my previous answer to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood) was incorrect. The correct number of projects is shown in the following table:
	
		
			Location 
			  Type of Project  Status  Lashkar Gar  Gereshk  Sangin  Musa Qal'eh 
			 Education Completed 6 4 1 0 
			  Ongoing 2 1 1 1 
			  Planned 0 4 0 1 
			   
			 Security and Rule of Law Completed 20 4 1 0 
			  Ongoing 8 6 4 2 
			  Planned 5 3 1 1 
			   
			 Health Completed 8 3 0 1 
			  Ongoing 1 1 0 1 
			  Planned 2 2 1 0 
			   
			 Roads Completed 0 1 (25km) 0 1 (6.4km) 
			  Ongoing 2 (4km) 1 (5km) 1 (0.3km) 1 (0.6km) 
			  Planned 0 2 (2km) 1 (2.2km) 0 
			   
			 Mosques/religious centres Completed 1 1 0 5 
			  Ongoing 1 1 1 1 
			  Planned 0 4 0 0 
			   
			 Other Completed 27 13 7 2 
			  Ongoing 1 1 1 5 
			  Planned 0 14 8 1 
			   
			 Total Completed 62 26 9 9 
			  Ongoing 15 11 8 11 
			  Planned 7 29 11 3 
			 Grand total  84 66 28 23

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on an increased deployment of their armed forces in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 I discuss regularly with my NATO counterparts force levels in Afghanistan, including at a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on 12-13 June.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions live munitions have been launched from MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by the RAF over Afghanistan; and how many  (a) combatants have been killed and  (b) non-combatants have been killed and injured as a result of such launches.

Des Browne: UK Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles operating over Afghanistan have been used successfully to launch munitions on seven occasions. I am withholding details of these engagements as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours have been recorded by unmanned aerial vehicles in  (a) Iraq,  (b) Afghanistan and  (c) elsewhere in each of the last four quarters, broken down by vehicle type.

Des Browne: The flying hours recorded for unmanned aerial vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan are shown as follows.
	
		
			   Hermes 450  Reaper 
			  Iraq   
			 Q3 2007 1,143  
			 Q4 2007 1,270  
			 Q1 2008 1,113  
			 Q2 2008 1,127  
			
			  Afghanistan   
			 Q3 2007 270 500 
			 Q4 2007 1,351 500 
			 Q1 2008 1,412 500 
			 Q2 2008 1,582 500 
		
	
	The figures shown for Reaper are average figures.
	The Army also operates Desert Hawk III unmanned aerial vehicles, but flight times are only recorded as a total figure and not in the format requested. The total hours flown in each theatre for the same period are 1,871 in Iraq, and 1,217 in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has received on the impact of attacks on convoys to Musa Qala, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on water supplies for British troops serving in that Province.

Des Browne: I have received no reports suggesting that attacks on convoys to Musa Qala, Helmand Province, have had an impact on drinking water for British troops serving in that Province.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quick impact projects have been undertaken by the Royal Engineers and the Army in Afghanistan since 2001.

Des Browne: The Royal Engineers, through their construction supervision cell, have managed 201 Quick Impact Projects since 2001, including building schools, medical clinics, roads, irrigation channels and electrical networks.

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what companies contribute to the running costs of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme; and how much each contributed in the last period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: We are grateful to the sponsors of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Augusta Westland and their predecessors) who have contributed 45,000 each for this year, and to Sir Neil Thorne for the very considerable moral and financial support he has lent the scheme since inception in 1989.

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme cost to run in the last financial year; and how much external sources of funding contributed towards this cost.

Derek Twigg: The MOD receives no outside funding assistance for its activity in support of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The costs to the Department of running the scheme are not recorded separately.

Armed Forces: Contracts

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider his Department's decision to award the contracts for  (a) the Future Rapid Effects System and  (b) the Defence Training Rationalisation to US firms in the light of the US Administration's decision to reopen the US Air Force air tanker contract.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 21 July 2008
	The US decision is a matter for the US Government. Contract awards for FRES and the DTR were based on the best value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Armed Forces: Fire Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans there are to use armed forces personnel in the event of a  (a) fire service strike,  (b) terrorist incident and  (c) influenza pandemic; and what changes have been made to those plans since the coming into force of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces provide assistance to the civil authorities at their request and primarily when the civil authorities lack the necessary capabilities. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 has mandated that civil authorities should have contingency plans in place to deal with a range of civil crises. As a result civil authorities have developed their capabilities to deal with a wide range of challenges.
	In relation to strikes in the fire and rescue service, responsibility for contingency planning rests with the fire and rescue authority, and not the Secretary of State for Defence. Fire and rescue authorities are required to have in place a contingency plan which does not rely upon support from the armed forces. Accordingly the armed forces do not have any contingency plans in place, but Defence Ministers would consider any requests from the Department for Communities and Local Government, the lead Government Department responsible for the Fire and Rescue Service on a case by case basis.
	The Home Secretary is primarily responsible for the safety and security of the UK population including protecting the public against terrorism. The police and other first responders have a wide range of capabilities to deal with terrorist incidents. The armed forces do provide some niche capabilities, for example Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, and have contingency plans in place to make specialist capabilities available should they be required by the police or other civil authorities.
	Planning for the effects of an outbreak of pandemic influenza is ongoing and cross government plans are being developed. The magnitude of Defence assistance that could be provided during any outbreak would of course be dependent on how badly the armed forces have been affected by the outbreak.

Armed Forces: Food

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the effects of the Pay As You Dine scheme on nutrition of young soldiers; and what steps he is taking to ensure that young soldiers reliant on the Pay As You Dine scheme consume an adequate diet;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of whether the Pay As You Dine scheme has promoted healthy eating;
	(3)  what customer satisfaction surveys of the Pay As You Dine scheme have been undertaken and if he will publish the results of the surveys.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Andrew Murrison:
	My colleague, the Under Secretary of State for Defence, undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions on 2 June 2008, (Official Report, column 669-670W) about Pay As You Dine (PAYD) for Service personnel. I am responding as the Duty Minister.
	Prior to the introduction of PAYD, all Service personnel living in Single Living Accommodation paid a fixed food charge to cover three meals per day, irrespective of the number of meals that they actually ate. Inspection showed that on average 50 percent of meals or less were being taken. The Armed Forces Pay Review Body during their annual round of discussions with Service personnel identified strong support, particularly from amongst the junior ranks, for a replacement system which would enable personnel to pay only for food that they ate. In 2005, the MOD gave approval for each of the Services to implement PAYD and this they are now doing in a manner appropriate to meet their individual Service needs. PAYD is part of a concept of integrated catering, retail and leisure services that aims to improve the quality of life for Service personnel. It gives our Service personnel greater freedom by giving them the choice over when, where and how they eat and promotes fairness by ensuring that Service personnel pay only for the meals that they consume.
	The PAYD scheme incorporates a core menu which conforms to the Tri Service Menu Policy. Indeed, the three core meals under PAYD are designed to be broadly to the same standard (ie to provide the required calories and nutritional balance if all three meals are taken) as those specified under the old regime with the cost of the core menu being exactly the same as the current Daily Food Charge. The MOD undertakes to provide a variety of healthy palatable food and beverages to all military personnel to enable them to adopt healthy eating habits, a balanced diet and to ensure optimal fitness and performance. Contract Caterers who deliver PAYD are required to provide food at the point of service that meets these requirements. In addition we continue to encourage all personnel to eat in a healthy and balanced manner. However, whether Service personnel are at a PAYD site or not, the ability to ensure that young serving personnel eat a healthy and balanced diet is somewhat limited. The menus at each meal offer healthy options but we do not have the ability to force people to choose that option. With the introduction of PAYD and choice there comes with it a certain degree of personal responsibility in terms of what they eat. There is also a mechanism in place to ensure that nobody is denied a meal if they run out of funds and special dietary and religious eating needs continue to be accommodated.
	Your first question referred to the impact on young soldiers. Due to the special circumstances of the nutritional needs of young trainees (of all the Services), Phase one trainees and some Phase two trainees do not participate in PAYD, but continue to pay the Daily Food Charge and are entitled to the core menu to ensure they receive a balanced and nutritional diet which includes appropriate supplements to cater for high activity levels (although it is still the individual's choice as to what they put on their plate at meal times). Trainees receive specifically targeted booklets, lifestyle lectures and guidance during training to ensure that they appreciate the importance of adequate and appropriate eating habits in relation to their professional and personal activities. In addition new recruits are also taught how to budget for PAYD.
	In terms of assessing whether or not the PAYD scheme has promoted healthy eatingall contract Caterers are required to provide healthy options at each core meal. Contracts provide for cereals, yoghurt and fruit as part of the breakfast menu and for lunch and dinner salads and fresh vegetables are available. Where concerns are raised, these are addressed directly with the Contractor and alternative healthier options to various meals are introduced. PAYD was introduced to give people choice; it does this by offering a wide variety of meals at varying prices. Healthy options (as part of the core meal) are available if chosen by the individual.
	In addition, Defence Food Services has issued all Commanding Officers with a pan-Service booklet A Guide to Healthy Eating to complement and reinforce the policy. The Expert Panel of Armed Forces Feeding (EPAFF), in consultation with QinetiQ, has also produced and issued a Recruits Guide to Nutrition, a Servicewoman's Guide to Health and Performance, and an Armed Forces Personal Guide to Nutrition. All of these publications recognise the potential change to individual food choice as a result of the introduction of PAYD and are designed to provide individuals with the necessary guidance and advice to enable them to choose the right foods so that they can more easily cope with the physical demands of military training, operations and competitive sports. The single Services continue to reinforce the healthy eating message through various single Service publications.
	The single Services monitor the PAYD scheme through a regular programme of meetings between the Services and Contractor both locally and at HQ level. For the Royal Navy, the contracts require that the contractors undertake regular Customer Surveys and provide returns for assessment by the Royal Navy commercial branch and the Catering Services subject matter experts. The Army has a survey under way which began in late April 2008, the responses to which are still being received. Over 4,000 questionnaires were distributed with the results becoming available over the next few months. The RAF which has only three PAYD sites has monitored feedback on its trial sites via customer feedback forms. However since the start of 2008, focus groups have been held and are currently being completed to indicate consumer views. In addition, a sample of RAF personnel has been completing food diaries over a period of a month to gauge eating patterns. A formal independent assessment by a Market Research company is currently being carried out at comparable PAYD and non PAYD units. Centrally, feedback is received via the various Continuous Attitude Surveys undertaken by the Single Services. The first UK Tri-Service Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2007 was published on 9 July 2008 and is available at:
	http://www.mod.uk/NR/donlyres/E4D829FFFD4D46F8B9B403837353F6B1/0/afcasresults_2007.pdf.
	A copy is also available in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Fuel

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of increases in the cost of fuel on the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 23 July to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	 Letter from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 19 June 2008, (Official Report, column 1095W) about fuels. I apologise for the delay in replying, but the way we purchase and account for fuel is complex, and it has taken some time to assemble the information you requested.
	In my reply on 7 February 2008, (Official Report, column 1492W) I stated that fuel price changes (predominantly affecting maritime and aviation fuel) were estimated to have added outturn costs of around 80 million over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 to the Department's fuel bill. This figure was based on a costing model. More up-to-date information now available indicates, through this cost model, that the additional cost incurred by the Department over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 through fuel price rises was some 120-130M.
	The table below provides the amount the MOD spent on fuel in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08, broken down by type of fuel. The information is derived from Top Level Budget Holders' submissions to the overall Departmental Resource Accounts.
	
		
			   million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Aviation fuel(1) 255 265 270 
			 Fuels (non-utility)(2) 200 255 305 
			 Totals 455 520 575 
			 (1)For 2005-06 and 2006-07, some aviation fuel expenditure was accounted for in the Stock Consumption line of the published Departmental Resource Accounts for those years. (2) Defined as petroleum-based liquid fuels meeting internationally recognised specifications that are used to power ships and vehicles. 
		
	
	I would stress that these figures cannot be comprehensive, as local purchase arrangements are not always visible at higher levels of accounting: for example, while systems are in place to ensure propriety by recording local purchase of fuel for military vehicles at commercial petrol stations, these do not feed into higher financial management systems. Additionally, the figures do not include utilities (for example, natural gas and heating oil used to heat buildings), which are accounted for separately. There may also be other, smaller elements of fuel expenditure which Departmental financial management systems do not enable us to identify.
	Assuming that volumes consumed in core Defence activity such as non-operational exercising have remained broadly constant or increased only marginally over the period, a large proportionpossibly around two-thirdsof the estimated outturn cost increase of 120-130M is likely to be attributable to Request for Resources 2 (RfR2the Department's claim against the Reserve for operations). I would stress that this is an estimate, not an absolute measure of the impact of fuel price increases on either Defence or the Exchequer.
	Where fuel prices increase, there will naturally be an impact on the cost of operations, depending on the volume of consumption at the time and the extent to which any local purchasing arrangements reflect global $ price increases: a broad estimate suggests that this effect could be around 1-2M for every US $1 increase in the price of crude oil.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Fuel

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what expenditure incurred on fuels for the Armed Forces and Defence Fuel Groups was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the financial effects on the defence budget of a rise in crude oil price of $1 per barrel.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 23 July to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	 Letter from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 19 June 2008, (Official Report, column 1095W) about fuels. I apologise for the delay in replying, but the way we purchase and account for fuel is complex, and it has taken some time to assemble the information you requested.
	In my reply on 7 February 2008 (Official Report, column 1492W) I stated that fuel price changes (predominantly affecting maritime and aviation fuel) were estimated to have added outturn costs of around 80 million over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 to the Department's fuel bill. This figure was based on a costing model. More up-to-date information now available indicates, through this cost model, that the additional cost incurred by the Department over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 through fuel price rises was some 120-130M.
	The table below provides the amount the MOD spent on fuel in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08, broken down by type of fuel. The information is derived from Top Level Budget Holders' submissions to the overall Departmental Resource Accounts.
	
		
			   million 
			   2005 - 06  2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			 Aviation fuel(1) 255 265 270 
			 Fuels (non-utility)(2) 200 255 305 
			 Totals 455 520 575 
			 (1) For 2005/06 and 2006/07, some aviation fuel expenditure was accounted for in the Stock Consumption line of the published Departmental Resource Accounts for those years. (2) Defined as petroleum-based liquid fuels meeting internationally recognised specifications that are used to power ships and vehicles. 
		
	
	I would stress that these figures cannot be comprehensive, as local purchase arrangements are not always visible at higher levels of accounting: for example, while systems are in place to ensure propriety by recording local purchase of fuel for military vehicles at commercial petrol stations, these do not feed into higher financial management systems. Additionally, the figures do not include utilities (for example, natural gas and heating oil used to heat buildings), which are accounted for separately. There may also be other, smaller elements of fuel expenditure which Departmental financial management systems do not enable us to identify.
	Assuming that volumes consumed in core Defence activity such as non-operational exercising have remained broadly constant or increased only marginally over the period, a large proportionpossibly around two-thirdsof the estimated outturn cost increase of 120-130M is likely to be attributable to Request for Resources 2 (RfR2the Department's claim against the Reserve for operations). I would stress that this is an estimate, not an absolute measure of the impact of fuel price increases on either Defence or the Exchequer.
	Where fuel prices increase, there will naturally be an impact on the cost of operations, depending on the volume of consumption at the time and the extent to which any local purchasing arrangements reflect global $ price increases: a broad estimate suggests that this effect could be around 1-2M for every US $1 increase in the price of crude oil.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Holiday Leave

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of annual leave was not taken by service personnel in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 175W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department may lease properties where the freehold is owned by Annington Homes to civilians; whether the terms of his Department's contract with Annington Homes prevent long-term leases; and what other restrictions there are on the terms upon which his Department may lease such properties to tenants.

Derek Twigg: Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the UK is primarily provided to house entitled Service personnel and their families. Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian key staff and some members of the MOD Police also have an entitlement to occupy SFA.
	The MOD supports the leasing of temporarily surplus SFA to eligible civilians in accordance with wider Government policies on empty homes, however this can only be done where it does not prejudice the need to provide homes for entitled personnel. The rules on eligibility can be found in the Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, available online at:
	www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publications/jsp
	In addition to this, the MOD is currently exploring options regarding the leasing of temporary surplus accommodation.
	Where there is no long term requirement for SFA, the properties would be returned to AHL and are normally sold on the open market. The onward sale or disposal of these properties is a matter for the company.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) requirement and  (b) actual number of (i) unit welfare officers and (ii) padres in each service is.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave on 21 April 2008 to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).
	The Royal Navy has a requirement for 70 chaplains and by the end of the financial year will have 65 in post.
	The Army has a requirement for 159 chaplains and have 146 in post.
	The RAF has a requirement for 76 chaplains and currently have 64 in post.

Armed Forces: Olympic Games

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces competed in each Olympic Games for which records are available.

Derek Twigg: The following tables show the number of personnel from each service who competed in the summer and winter Olympic games for which records are available:
	
		
			  Summer 
			   Royal Navy  Army  Royal Air Force 
			 1948 (1) 19 8 
			 1952 1 12 2 
			 1956 0 8 11 
			 1960 0 6 3 
			 1964 0 5 0 
			 1968 2 7 1 
			 1972 2 3 2 
			 1976 2 3 0 
			 1980 1 1 1 
			 1984 2 3 3 
			 1988 1 7 2 
			 1992 0 2 0 
			 1996 0 3 0 
			 2000 1 1 1 
			 2004 0 2 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Winter 
			   Royal Navy  Army  Royal Air Force 
			 1964 (1) 7 1 
			 1968 (1) 7 3 
			 1972 (1) 8 2 
			 1976 (1) 6 0 
			 1980 (1) 15 0 
			 1984 1 15 2 
			 1988 0 12 3 
			 1992 1 11 0 
			 1994 0 9 0 
			 1998 1 4 1 
			 2002 1 7 3 
			 2006 3 3 2 
			 (1) No record.

Armed Forces: Young People

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people under 18 years old serving in the armed forces have been court-martialled in each of the last five years; and what charges were brought at each court-martial where proceedings have been completed.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of people under 18 serving in the armed forces who have been court-martialled in each of the last five years; and what charges were brought at each court-martial where proceedings have been completed.
	
		
			   Number of under-18s who have been court-martialled  Charges 
			  Royal Navy   
			 2003 0  
			
			 2004 0  
			
			 2005 0  
			
			 2006 1 2 x assault by beating 
			   1 x attempting to unlawfully and maliciously wound 
			
			 2007 0  
			
			  Army   
			 2003 1 2 x absence without leave 
			  1 1 x aggravated vehicle taking 
			  1 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			  1 1 x handling stolen goods 
			  1 1 x indecent assault on male person 
			 Total 5  
			
			 2004 1 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			  1 1 x unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm 
			 Total 2  
			
			 2005 1 3 x conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline 
			  2 Each charged: 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			  1 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 1 x common assault 
			  1 1 x battery 
			  1 1 x unlawful wounding and 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			 Total 6  
			
			 2006 1 1 x absence without leave 
			  1 1 x affray and doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice 
			  1 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			 Total 3  
			
			 2007 1 2 x absence without leave 
			  1 2 x fighting 
			  2 Each charged: 3 x battery 
			  1 3 x sexual assault 
			  3 Each charged: 1 x assault occasioning actual bodily harm 
			  1 1 x battery 
			  1 1 x harassment 
			  1 1 x inflicting grievous bodily harm 
			 Total 11  
		
	
	As the table shows, some individuals had more than one charge brought against them.
	The number of people under 18-years-old serving in the Royal Air Force who have been court-martialled in the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) unladen weight,  (b) carrying capacity by weight,  (c) external measurements,  (d) internal measurements of working space and  (e) cubic capacity of working space is of the (i) Snatch Land Rover and (ii) Force Protection Cheetah.

Bob Ainsworth: The Snatch 2 Land Rover has an overall length of 4,800 mm including the spare wheel, an overall height of 2,370 mm and an overall width of 2,000 mm with mirrors folded. I am withholding the information relating to the weight, internal measurements of working space, cubic capacity of working space and vehicle carrying capacity as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	The Cheetah series of vehicles is produced by the US company Force Protection Inc. The Department does not have any of these vehicles in service and therefore cannot issue what constitutes proprietary information on this vehicle. The hon. Member may, though, be interested in looking at a brochure on the Force Protection Industries website which contains information on the Cheetah's specifications. The address is:
	www.forceprotection.net/models/cheetah/specs/cheetah_brochure.pdf

Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to change the way the Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority operates following the proceedings on the death of Mr. Baha Musa in Iraq in British custody and the legal aid provided to the defendants.

Des Browne: No specific issues arose out of the proceedings on the death of Mr. Baha Mousa in Iraq in British custody that indicated the need to change the way in which the Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority (now the Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority) operates.
	Separately, a number of changes have been made to the administration of armed forces legal aid to reflect the interim changes to the civilian criminal legal aid scheme resulting from the Lord Carter's Review of Legal Aid Procurement. Further changes emerging from the review will be considered for adoption in due course. This will allow the Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid system to continue to reflect the legal aid system operated by the Legal Services Commission.

Defence Estates

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the value of his Department's disposable land as identified in the defence estates development plan.

Derek Twigg: Market value estimates are only made once sites are released for disposal.
	I am withholding the estimated value of released sites within our disposal plans as their release would prejudice commercial interests.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses on the Ministry of Defence estate will be refurbished in each of the next five years.

Derek Twigg: Refurbishment of property is not readily distinguishable from other maintenance or upgrade expenditure when compiling costings and planning for service families accommodation (SFA).
	We intend to spend in excess of 8 billion on accommodation over the next decade, of which over 3 billion will be on improvements and upgrades.
	Based on current funding levels, the MOD plans to upgrade at least 600 of the worst condition SFA properties in the United Kingdom to the highest Standard for Condition in 2008-09 and at least 800 properties each year until Financial Year 2012. The upgrade programme prioritises those properties identified as being in the greatest need.
	In addition, we will carry out routine works, on SFA, including maintenance and replacement of bathrooms, kitchens and boilers, which while not sufficient to upgrade a property to the next level or higher, will significantly improve the quality of life for the occupants.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether his Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years;
	(2)  what account his Department takes of the level of energy efficiency of buildings before entering into agreements to  (a) rent and  (b) purchase those buildings.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to meeting the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets for improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from buildings relative to 1999-2000 levels and achieving carbon neutrality on its office estate by 2012.
	In 2006-07, the last period for which published figures are available, we achieved an improvement in energy efficiency per metre squared of 29 per cent., and reduced carbon dioxide emissions from buildings by some eight per cent., against the relevant SOGE reduction targets of 30 per cent., by 2020 and 12.5 per cent., by 2010-11, respectively.
	In addition, the MOD has gone further than the 12.5 per cent., reduction in carbon dioxide emissions required by 2010-11 and has put in place a 15 per cent., reduction target relative to 2004-05 levels, which is to be achieved through increased energy efficiency and greater use of renewable and low carbon technologies.
	Where existing buildings are being considered for acquisition or rental, the energy efficiency information provided by the Energy Performance Certificate will be taken into account.
	Where new build is concerned, the MOD integrates carbon reduction and sustainable development considerations into its building design and construction projects.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department and its agencies have been  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the number of Ministry of Defence civilian employees who have been  (a) dismissed in the last two financial years.
	
		
			  Headcount 
			  Financial year  Number of MOD civilian employees dismissed( 1) 
			 2006-07 120 
			 2007-08 100 
			 (1) Includes all non-industrial, industrial and trading fund MOD civilian personnel but excludes Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on exit dismissals is available.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of Ministry of Defence civilian employees who have been  (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years. It includes all discipline and restoring efficiency cases; this can vary from poor attendance to excessive sick absence.
	
		
			   Financial year 
			  Level 1  2006-07( 1)  2007-08 
			 Open cases  (2)1,030 
			 New cases  (2)200 
			 Closed cases  (2)140 
			 (1) Data for financial year 2006-07 are not available. (2) Numbers are provisional.  Note: Data provided by PPPA.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on entertainment in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: We report expenditure on hospitality and entertainment in our annual report and accounts.
	Copies of our annual report and accounts are available in the Library of the House and online at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in 2007-08; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The number and value of annual appraisal-related bonuses paid to members of the senior civil service (SCS), to fixed term appointees and to civil servants below the level of the SCS covered by the MOD main pay deal (excluding trading funds and agencies), in 2007-08, are listed in tables 1 to 3 as follows. The Ministry of Defence also awards special bonuses to individuals and teams for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit MOD and the individual; these are shown in table 4. The final table (5) shows the total value of all bonuses paid in cash terms; it is not possible at this time to give the percentage of the work force to which this refers and this will be advised at the end of July.
	
		
			  Table 1: Bonuses paid to senior civil servants 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid 186 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 1,325,700 
			 Highest bonus payment () 17,600 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Bonuses paid to fixed term appointees 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid (1)16 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 333,915 
			 Highest bonus payment () 50,000 
			 (1) There is one outstanding bonus payment still to be agreed. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: End of year bonuses paid to staff below the level of the SCS (excluding MOD trading fund agencies 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid 52,193 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 39,695,110 
			 Highest bonus payment () 4,695 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Special bonuses (excluding MOD trading fund agencies) 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of staff who received bonus(es) 8,428 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 3,455,124 
			 Highest bonus payment () 2,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Summary of bonuses paid 
			  Total  2007-08 
			 Value of all bonuses paid () 44,589,288 
			 Percentage of total civilian work force (1) 
			 (1) Staff numbers taken from departmental end year accounts not yet available. 
		
	
	 Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Vincent Cable:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question of 21 July 2008, (Official Report, column 842-843W) about bonus payments.
	I am now able to provide the percentage of the workforce who received a bonus payment in 2007-08. An updated Table 5 is shown below:
	
		
			  Table 5: Summary of bonuses paid 
			  Total  2007-08 
			 Value of all bonuses paid 44,589,288 
			 Percentage of total civilian workforce 72.5 
		
	
	The figures in the table represent bonuses paid to members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS), fixed term appointees, and to civil servants, covered by the MOD main pay deal, below the level of the SCS.
	For the SCS, under the current arrangements delegated to departments from the Cabinet Office, bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year, and are based on a judgement of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The intention is that the best performers receive the biggest bonuses.
	For the grades below the SCS, bonus awards are made on the judgement of local managers of an individual's contribution to the year's business objectives, relative to those of colleagues in the same pay band or skill zone. Individual recommendations for or against awards are made by line managers in accordance with corporate criteria and are subsequently reviewed and validated by senior officers.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the MOD policy manual and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. The code can be viewed at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp.
	As temporary civil servants special advisers are subject to the same rules.
	The following table contains the total amount of reimbursable expenses claimed by MOD special advisers over the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total expenses () 
			 1997-98 321.54 
			 1998-99 444.33 
			 1999-2000 1,685.83 
			 2000-01 50.00 
			 2001-02 182.42 
			 2002-03 3,699.02 
			 2003-04 3,040.12 
			 2004-05 3,465.12 
			 2005-06 1,104.57 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 44.00 
		
	
	These reimbursable expenses cover costs associated with travel, parking, accommodation, subsistence and the incidental expenses allowance claimed while on duty in UK and abroad.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in each of the last three financial years.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Where authorised, reimbursable expenses are provided in line with MOD Guidance and wider Government regulations.

Departmental Postal Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The MOD dispatches relatively little mail externally. Official mail within the Department is primarily distributed by the internal Defence Mail Service, provided by the British Forces Post Office, while mail for personnel serving overseas is usually distributed by RAF air transport. The cost of the mail service is monitored daily by the BFPO budget manager and evaluation meetings are held monthly with the Commander Defence Postal Services.
	Most external mail is sent through the Royal Mail Group, or, exceptionally through other approved carriers, the cost of which is met and monitored by individual budget holders. These details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has a central enabling contract with a journal supplier which all staff are encouraged to use to purchase discounted subscriptions to non-recreational periodicals in order to achieve best value for money. The contract is open to all MOD units, civilian and military, worldwide. It is primarily used for the purchase of medical, technical and academic journals in support of military health care, the equipment programme and education and training. Expenditure under the contract for the period June 2006 to May 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Month  Expenditure () 
			  2006  
			 June 16,900 
			 July 13,167 
			 August 7,130 
			 September 36,572 
			 October (1)233,66 
			 November 64,248 
			 December (1)329,737 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 61,683 
			 February 32,829 
			 March 28,053 
			 April 59,569 
			 May 62,797 
			 June 17,288 
			 July (1)270,089 
			 August 10,861 
			 September 38,019 
			 October (1)180,107 
			 November 25,091 
			 December 33,859 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 12,847 
			 February (1)371,188 
			 March 76,095 
			 April 7,059 
			 May 74,847 
			 (1) Units may choose to pay by monthly or annual payment. Annual payments account for periodic cost variations. 
		
	
	As use of the contract is not compulsory, some units may be using alternative suppliers. Information on expenditure under such local arrangements is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Bob Ainsworth: It is the Department's policy to meet its payment obligations promptly within agreed contract terms and acquisition teams are bound under HM Treasury rules to choose or negotiate payment terms that represent good value.
	The Department is making greater use of e-tools to secure better deals and speed up the payment process in pursuit of better value for money.

Departmental Property

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations have received  (a) free and  (b) discounted room hire from (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department's main estimate in  (a) near cash and  (b) non-cash terms on the same basis as in his answers to the hon. Member for Aldershot on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2346W and 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2284W.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Gerald Howarth:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 168W, requesting a breakdown of the Department's main estimate in near cash and non-cash terms on the same basis as previous replies on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2346W and 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2284W.
	I attach tables which provide a detailed breakdown of the Department's Main Estimates for 2008-09.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Breakdown of Main Estimates 
			  TLB  Estimate type  000 
			  RfR1   
			  Commander-in-Chief Fleet DEL near cash 2,199,338 
			  DEL non cash 2,555 
			  Grants 10,462 
			  Operating A-in-A -41,157 
			  Total DEL 2,171,198 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget grants 2,253 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total non Budget 2,253 
			  CDEL 25,033 
			  CDEL non operating A-in-A  
			  AME non operating A-in-A  
			  Total capital 25,033 
			 Total Commander-in-Chief Fleet  2,198,484 
			
			  Commander-in-Chief Land   
			  DEL near cash 6,479,727 
			  DEL non cash 31,532 
			  Grants 59,658 
			  Operating A-in-A -107,762 
			  Total DEL 6,463,155 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget grants 15,138 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 15,138 
			  CDEL 260,985 
			  CDEL non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 260,985 
			 Total Commander-in-Chief Land  6,739,278 
			
			  Commander in Chief Air Command   
			  DEL near cash 2,888,118 
			  DEL non cash 10,918 
			  Grants 3,099 
			  Operating A-in-A -168,113 
			  Total DEL 2,734,022 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget grants 7,189 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 7,189 
			  CDEL 111,675 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 111,675 
			 Total Commander-In-Chief Air Command  2,852,886 
			
			  Chief of Joint Operations   
			  DEL near cash 433,968 
			  DEL non cash 28,915 
			  Grants 0 
			  Operating A-in-A -25,489 
			  Total DEL 437,394 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash 0 
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 0 
			  CDEL 68,258 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 68,258 
			 Total Chief of Joint Operations  505,652 
			
			  Central   
			  DEL near cash 1,727,297 
			  DEL non cash 206,095 
			  Grants 168,562 
			  Operating A-in-A -335,848 
			  Total DEL 1,766,106 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME Grants  
			  AME non cash -12 
			  AME A in A  
			  Total AME -12 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget grants 750 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 750 
			  CDEL 87,088 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A -12,115 
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 74,973 
			 Total Central  1,841,817 
			
			  Defence Equipment and Support   
			  DEL near cash 5,678,284 
			  DEL non cash 9,179,048 
			  Grants 1,051 
			  Operating A-in-A -192,471 
			  Total DEL 14,665,912 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash -84,762 
			  AME A-in-A  
			  Total AME -84,762 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget A-in-A -4 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget -4 
			  CDEL 7,310,755 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A 0 
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 7,310,755 
			 Total Defence Equipment and Support  21,891,901 
			
			  Science, Innovation Technology   
			  DEL near cash 622,507 
			  DEL non cash -5,284 
			  Grants 4,204 
			  Operating A-in-A 0 
			  Total DEL 621,427 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 0 
			  CDEL 0 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 0 
			 Total Science, Innovation, Technology  621,427 
			
			  Defence Estates   
			  DEL near cash 1,209,571 
			  DEL non cash 1,486,735 
			  Grants 0 
			  Operating A-in-A -371,944 
			  Total DEL 2,324,362 
			  AME near cash 0 
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash 3,026 
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 3,026 
			  CDEL 221,366 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A -203,000 
			  Capital Non Budget 2,019 
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A 0 
			  Total Capital 20,385 
			 Defence Estates Total  2,347,773 
			
			  Administration costs   
			  DEL near cash 2,294,141 
			  DEL non cash  
			  Grants  
			  Operating A-in-A  
			  Total DEL 2,294,141 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget near cash grants  
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 0 
			  CDEL  
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 0 
			 Total Administration costs  2,294,141 
			
			  Total RfR1   
			  DEL near cash 23,532,951 
			  DEL non cash 10,940,514 
			  Grants 247,036 
			  Operating A-in-A -1,242,784 
			  Total DEL 33,477,717 
			  AME near cash 0 
			  AME Grants 0 
			  AME non cash -84,774 
			  AME receipts 0 
			  Total AME -84,774 
			  Non Budget near cash 3,026 
			  Non Budget Grants 25,330 
			  Non Budget non cash 0 
			  receipt -4 
			  Total Non Budget 28,352 
			  COEL 8,085,160 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A -215,115 
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A 0 
			  Non Budget Capital 2,019 
			  Total Capital 7,872,064 
			 Total RfR1  41,293,359 
			
			  RfR2   
			  Operations and Peace-Keeping   
			  DEL near cash 89,566 
			  DEL non cash  
			  Grants  
			  Operating A-in-A  
			  Total DEL 89,566 
			  AME near cash  
			  AME non cash  
			  Total AME 0 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 0 
			  CDEL 0 
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 0 
			 Total Operations and Peace-Keeping  89,566 
			
			  RfR3   
			  War Pensions and Allowances   
			  Admin budget  
			  DEL near cash  
			  DEL non cash  
			  Grants  
			  Operating A-in-A  
			  Total DEL 0 
			  AME near cash  
			  Grants 1,015,602 
			  AME non cash -512 
			  Total AME 1,015,090 
			  Non Budget near cash  
			  Non Budget non cash  
			  Total Non Budget 0 
			  CDEL  
			  CDEL Non Operating A-in-A  
			  AME Non Operating A-in-A  
			  Total Capital 0 
			 Total War Pensions and Allowances  1,015,090 
			
			 MOD Total  42,398,015

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007.

Derek Twigg: Information on the number of reviews and public consultations conducted by MOD is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility who gave mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many sick days were taken by employees in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility due to mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of sick days taken this represented in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Department reports absences listed for mental health and behavioural disorders against the standard ICD 10 CodeMental and Behavioural Disorders (PSD).
	Data for staff in the Ministry of Defence are listed in the following table.
	
		
			  Sick days recorded against ICD 10: Mental Health and Behavioural Disorders (PSD) 
			   Personnel   Total working days lost 
			  12 months ending  Number  Percentage  Average days duration  Number  Percentage 
			 31 December 2005 3,920 5.0 22.1 134,670 18.3 
			 31 December 2006 3,980 5.3 21.9 128,030 19.4 
			 31 December 2007 3,830 5.4 22.5 124,950 19.9 
			 31 March 2008 3,770 5.4 22.4 122,440 20.4 
			  Notes: 1. Data exclude staff in Trading Funds, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and Locally Engaged Civilians for whom sickness absence data are not readily available. 2. Data presented reflect the current Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum absence of 225 days per person in any one year, and exclude absence days that occurred on weekends, annual leave and bank holidays. 3. Totals have been rounded to the nearest 10, totals and sub totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. 4. The percentage of working days lost is calculated as a percentage of the total working days lost due to sickness absence. 
		
	
	Information prior to calendar year 2005 is compiled on a previous definition for monitoring sickness absence which is not consistent with figures for calendar year 2005 onwards.
	Data for the Ministry of Defence's agencies and non-departmental bodies are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Mental health and behavioural disorders such as anxiety and depression are often stress-related and MOD classifies all such absences under the same code. MOD is committed to protecting the health, safety and well-being of its employees and has a number of procedures in place to reduce stress at work.
	A stress management framework, based on the Health and Safety Executive's management standards, is available to all employees and gives easy to use advice on the successful prevention, recognition and management of stress at work. Online health promotion material on stress avoidance techniques is also available.
	It is also MOD policy to seek the early advice of occupational health professionals in cases of sick absence due to stress-related illnesses.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The number of MOD civilian personnel who have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007, was 2,620 (rounded to the nearest 10).
	Information prior to calendar year 2005 is compiled on a previous definition for monitoring sickness absence which is not consistent with figures for calendar year 2005 onwards.
	MOD is totally committed to the effective management of sickness absence and consistently performs well in this area. This is achieved by a combination of methods including the setting and monitoring of absence reduction targets for business units and actively involving line managers in the process. Early referral of persistent absentees for occupational health advice is also encouraged as early referrals usually result in an earlier return to regular attendance.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have received sick pay for sick leave due to mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what the average length of time was for which sick pay was paid in these cases; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fuels

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1492W, on fuels, 
	(1)  what percentage of the 80 million was paid for from the Treasury Reserve;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on fuel in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08, broken down by type of fuel;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the effect on the cost of British military operations abroad of each US $1 increase in the price of oil.

Bob Ainsworth: We are currently collating the necessary information. I will write to the hon. Member once this process is complete.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 19 June 2008, (Official Report, column 1095W) about fuels. I apologise for the delay in replying, but the way we purchase and account for fuel is complex, and it has taken some time to assemble the information you requested.
	In my reply on 7 February 2008 (Official Report, column 1492W) I stated that fuel price changes (predominantly affecting maritime and aviation fuel) were estimated to have added outturn costs of around 80 million over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 to the Department's fuel bill. This figure was based on a costing model. More up-to-date information now available indicates, through this cost model, that the additional cost incurred by the Department over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 through fuel price rises was some120-130M.
	The table below provides the amount the MOD spent on fuel in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08, broken down by type of fuel. The information is derived from Top Level Budget Holders' submissions to the overall Departmental Resource Accounts.
	
		
			   million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Aviation fuel(1) 255 265 270 
			 Fuels (non-utility)(2) 200 255 305 
			 Total 455 520 575 
			 (1) For 2005-06 and 2006-07, some aviation fuel expenditure was accounted for in the stock consumption line of the published departmental resource accounts for those years. (2) Defined as petroleum-based liquid fuels meeting internationally recognised specifications that are used to power ships and vehicles. 
		
	
	I would stress that these figures cannot be comprehensive, as local purchase arrangements are not always visible at higher levels of accounting: for example, while systems are in place to ensure propriety by recording local purchase of fuel for military vehicles at commercial petrol stations, these do not feed into higher financial management systems. Additionally, the figures do not include utilities (for example, natural gas and heating oil used to heat buildings), which are accounted for separately. There may also be other, smaller elements of fuel expenditure which Departmental financial management systems do not enable us to identify.
	Assuming that volumes consumed in core Defence activity such as non-operational exercising have remained broadly constant or increased only marginally over the period, a large proportionpossibly around two-thirdsof the estimated outturn cost increase of 120-130M is likely to be attributable to Request for Resources 2 (RfR2the Department's claim against the Reserve for operations). I would stress that this is an estimate, not an absolute measure of the impact of fuel price increases on either Defence or the Exchequer.
	Where fuel prices increase, there will naturally be an impact on the cost of operations, depending on the volume of consumption at the time and the extent to which any local purchasing arrangements reflect global $ price increases: a broad estimate suggests that this effect could be around 1-2M for every US $1 increase in the price of crude oil.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

General Staff Briefing Team

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chief of the General Staff Briefing Team report of July 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 832-33W. A copy of the most recently published report, for the second half of 2007, is available in the Library of the House. The next report is not expected to be finalised until later in the year for publication in early 2009.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Derek Twigg: As at 30 June 2008 there were 115 staff working in communications roles directly employed by the Department's Media and Communications Directorate.
	The Department does not retain central lists of communicators employed across the wider Department and its agencies.
	Additionally, other civil servants may have communication as a core part of their role as good communication is integral to supporting the Department.
	The GCN is open to all civilian and military staff in the Department performing communications work to register. As at 1 May 2008, the total number who has self-registered to the GCN in MOD was approximately 270.

HMS Ontario

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government has ownership of the wreck of HMS Ontario; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to my hon. Friend.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Gordon Prentice:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 3 July 2008 (Official Report, column 1040W), about the ownership of HMS ONTARIO, whose wreck has apparently been discovered by a Canadian dive group at the bottom of Lake Ontario on the US-Canada border.
	HMS ONTARIO, a 22 gun sloop, foundered in a storm on Lake Ontario on October 31 1780 during the American Revolutionary Warit is uncertain how many lives were lost (estimates range from 88 to over a 120) as the ship may have been carrying some American prisoners of war in addition to British soldiers and her British and Canadian crew. There were no survivors. The dive group, who located the wreck using side-scanning sonar and an unmanned submersible, say that it is virtually intact, it is thought that the cold, fresh water of the lake has acted as a preservative with the lack of light and oxygen slowing decomposition of the ship's timbers. In addition to being effectively the last resting place of those who perished in the sinking, the remains of the ONTARIO undoubtedly represent an important item of underwater cultural heritage. The dive group apparently have no plans to attempt to raise the wreck or remove artefacts from it and have not publicised its position.
	The ONTARIO was launched from Carleton Island shipyard on Lake Ontario in May 1780. A King's Ship, she was part of the Provincial Marine, a coastal protection service on the Great Lakes operated and staffed by the Royal Navy. This service with the Provincial Marine complicates the question of ownership as it is possible that rights to the wreck may have transferred to Canada when she became an independent nation and the assets of the Provincial Marine were made over to it. This issue is being investigated but as you can appreciate, it is likely to take some time to resolve.
	That said, the issue of who actually owns the wreck may, in this case, be moot. The remains of HMS ONTARIO appear to lie in United States territorial waters and the United States have already indicated that they are willing to use US legislation to protect the wreck from unauthorised interferencea stance that the United Kingdom is entirely comfortable with. The United Kingdom is unlikely to object to appropriate archaeological investigation of the findhowever, any such investigation would be a matter for the Canadian and United States authorities in the first instance given that these two countries control access to the site. We shall of course continue to monitor developments and liaise with our Canadian and United States counterparts, but it seems clear that all State parties involved are united in their wish to see the wreck of HMS ONTARIO properly protected.

HMS Superb

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future deployment of HMS Superb.

Bob Ainsworth: HMS Superb will be conducting a series of tests and trials prior to her planned Decommissioning date in October 2008.

Horsea Island Dive Centre

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Horsea Island diving facilities have been closed to the public; whether they will be re-opened to the public; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The decision to close the Horsea Island facility to regular commercial use is the result of an increased training requirement for both Army and Royal Navy personnel, and a security review of the site which concluded that an armed security presence was required. Organised commercial diving activity is therefore no longer compatible with the operational and security arrangements required at this site.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how long it took to train and mentor the 10(th) division of the Iraqi army;
	(2)  how long on average it has taken to train and mentor each division of the Iraqi army;
	(3)  how long he estimates it will take to complete  (a) training and  (b) mentoring of the 14(th) division of the Iraqi army.

Des Browne: UK forces trained and mentored the 10(th) Division of the Iraqi army from the establishment of its Headquarters in Basra in May 2005 until its move to Dhi Qar province in September 2007. Since then, our Coalition partners have performed a residual mentoring role with the 10(th) Division.
	The appropriate duration and shape of the training and mentoring support that the Coalition provides to the Iraqi army is determined by a range of factors specific to each Division. These factors include the previous military experience of the Division's recruits, the timing of the Division's formation, the security challenges it faces and the availability of equipment. The Coalition does not therefore seek to calculate an average period for the full training and mentoring of Iraqi army Divisions.
	As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 660-3, subject to conditions on the ground, our military commanders expect the 14(th) Division in Basra to be fully trained during the first months of next year. On completion of our remaining military tasks in Basra, we aim to make the transition to a long term bilateral relationship with Iraq, the details of which we will be discussing with the Government of Iraq over the coming months.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Mastiff vehicles have been blown up in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date was of each incident.

Des Browne: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in ensuring British armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are appropriately equipped.

Des Browne: Excellent progress has been made in ensuring British forces serving on operations are provided with world class equipment. We have delivered equipment valued at more than 10 billion to the armed forces in the last three years, with over 3.6 billion of Urgent Operational Requirements being approved for Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of operations, including for vehicles, personal protection and Electronic Counter Measures.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 623-4W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, whether it is the policy of the Government that a renewed mandate for coalition forces in Iraq should include a timetable for withdrawal of coalition forces.

Des Browne: We have always made clear that adjustments to UK force levels in Iraq are made on the basis of progress in fulfilling our main military tasks and the conditions on the ground, and not on arbitrary timetables.
	As the Prime Minister set out on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 662-63, we expectsubject to conditions on the groundto be able to make the transition to a long-term bilateral military relationship in the first months of 2009, following the completion of our main military tasks.
	Assessments of progress in completing our tasks will form part of the ongoing discussions with the Iraqi Government and our coalition partners on the legal basis for our military presence after 2008.

Met Office: Telephone Services

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what income his Department received from the Met Office 0870 number in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06.

Derek Twigg: No revenue has been received by MOD from the Met Office 0870 numbers.

Military Aircraft

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) aircraft, broken down by type and  (b) tanks were withdrawn from service in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides details of the number of main battle tanks withdrawn from service with the armed forces in each year since 1997:
	
		
			  Equipment  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Challenger 1 (CR1 MBT) 0 0 14 74 90 88 96 53 8 3 0 
			 Challenger 2 (CR2 MBT) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 (1)40 0 
			 ¹ 20 CR2 MBT are being used as a source of spares. A further 20 remain in storage pending a disposal decision. 
		
	
	I will write to the hon. Member with the corresponding information for aircraft and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to  Mi ke  Penning:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 580-781W, about the numbers of aircraft, broken down by type that were withdrawn from service each year since 1997. I apologise for the delay in replying.
	Information on the numbers of aircraft withdrawn from service in each year is not held centrally in a consistent format. Nevertheless, determined efforts were made to collate available information. This exercise revealed a number of discrepancies in the data and despite a detailed and prolonged analysis, it was not possible to resolve these.
	Definitive information is known to exist in the engineering files for individual aircraft; however, to extract this information would require the retrieval from archive and examination of several hundred files and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	However, I am able to provide information on aircraft withdrawals for 2005-06 and 2006-07. This is shown in the table below.
	
		
			  Aircraft type  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Sea Harrier 8 0 
			 Harrier GR 0 1 
			 Jaguar GR 0 19 
			 Jaguar T 0 1 
			 Canberra T Mk 4 1 0 
			 Tornado GR4 0 1 
			 Tornado F3 25 8 
			 Hercules C-130J 0 1 
			 Hercules C-130K 0 1 
			 Tucano 30 0 
			 Dominie 1 0 
			 Nimrod MR2 0 5 
			 VC-10 C1K 1 0 
			 VC-10 K4 2 0 
			 Puma Mk1 1 0 
			 Gazelle AH1 0 6 
			 Lynx Mk3 1 0 
			 Lynx Mk7 4 4

Military Aircraft

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) unit cost and  (b) in-service date of the (i) Harrier GR3, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1, (iii) Tornado F3, (iv) Harrier GR5, (v) Jaguar GR1 and (vi) Tornado GR1 was.

Bob Ainsworth: The aircraft listed entered service between the mid-1970s and late 1980s. Because of the long period of time that has since elapsed, the unit cost of these aircraft is no longer centrally recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Official in-service dates are similarly no longer centrally recorded. Such information as is available is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Date entered service 
			 Harrier GR3 1976-77(1) 
			 Sea Harrier FRS1 1979(2) 
			 Tornado F3 July 1986(3) 
			 Harrier GR5 1987-89(1) 
			 Jaguar GR1 May 1973(3) 
			 Tornado GR1 January 1982(4) 
			 (1) Delivery dates for first tranche of aircraft. (2) First squadron became operational. (3) First aircraft entered service with Operational Conversion Unit. (4) First aircraft entered service with No. 9 Sqn.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unmanned aerial vehicles in operation or on order have an attack capability; what weapons they are equipped to carry; and how much has been spent to acquire a munitions inventory for such vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: Reaper is the only unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in operation or on order that has an attack capability. Reaper UAVs are capable of carrying 500 lb laser guided bombs and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles. Reaper's weapons are being procured from the United States Government through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case and the actual costs will depend on operational use.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on research into unmanned aerial vehicles in 2007-08; and how much is budgeted to be spent in 2008-09.

Bob Ainsworth: Approximately 34.7 million was spent on research into unmanned aerial vehicles during 2007-08. I am withholding further details as its release would prejudice commercial interests.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the programme cost of the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle is represented by  (a) research and development,  (b) the air vehicle,  (c) the sensors package,  (d) ground stations and  (e) through-life support.

Bob Ainsworth: Information relating to the costs of the Watchkeeper programme is not held in the format requested. Where available, details of the programme costs are as follows:
	The Watchkeeper Concept and Assessment Phases (equivalent to the latter stages of research) cost 65 million.
	The total cost of Watchkeeper air vehicles (excluding sensors) is 50.99 million.
	The total cost of sensors is 30.4 million.
	Ground control stations are included in the overall costs of the demonstration and manufacture contract.
	I am withholding information on expected costs for through-life support as its release would prejudice commercial interests.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unmanned aerial vehicles of each type are  (a) in service and  (b) on order.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is shown in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Type of UAV  In-Service  On Order 
			 Desert Hawk III 89 42 
			 Hermes 450 10(1) 0 
			 Watchkeeper 0 54 
			 Reaper 2 1 
			 (1) Hermes 450 UAVs are provided by Thales Aerospace under a service provision contract. The contract specifies monthly flying hours rather than numbers of air vehicles but the required service is typically achieved with 10 air vehicles.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the initial operating capability for Watchkeeper is expected to be achieved; and what the definition of that capability is.

Bob Ainsworth: Watchkeeper Initial Operating Capability is expected to be achieved no later than February 2011. The current programme forecast is December 2010. Initial Operating Capability is defined as 'one (Army) sub-unit trained and equipped to support a Medium Scale of Effort deployment'.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) helicopters and  (b) armoured vehicles of each type are (i) under repair and (ii) redundant or not repairable.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of helicopters of each type under repair or redundant or not repairable as of 1 June 2008 was as follows:
	
		
			  Type  Under Repair( 1)  Redundant( 2)  or not repairable 
			 Apache 7 0 
			 Chinook Mk2/2A 8 0 
			 Lynx Mk3/8 16 8 
			 Lynx Mk7/9 15 13 
			 Merlin Mk1 9 4 
			 Merlin Mk3 7 0 
			 Merlin Mk3a 0 0 
			 Gazelle 5 40 
			 Puma 7 5 
			 Sea King HAR Mk3 5 0 
			 Sea King HAR Mk3a 1 0 
			 Sea King HC Mk4 5 0 
			 Sea King HU Mk5 1 0 
			 Sea King HAS Mk6 0 13 
			 Sea King Mk6c 0 0 
			 Sea King Mk7 1 0 
			 (1) Under repair refers to those aircraft in depth maintenance/repair excluding those on modification/upgrade. (2) Redundant refers to those aircraft which are awaiting re-classification as surplus or those already declared surplus awaiting disposal. 
		
	
	The number of armoured vehicles of each type under repair or redundant or not repairable as of 3 July is as follows:
	
		
			   Under repair( 1)  Redundant or not repairable( 2) 
			  Type  Undergoing repair  Awaiting repair  Undergoing conversion  Redundant  Hulls beyond repair 
			 Challenger 2 MBT 9 11 0 38 0 
			 Warrior 58 61 0 0 (3)0 
			 FV430 (including Bulldog) 74 88 42 0 7 
			 CVR(T) 59 82 0 0 19 
			 Vector 1 0 0 0 8 
			 Mastiff 1 0 0 0 3 
			 (1) Repair is defined as the equipment either undergoing base overhaul (programmed work) or specified work (work not possible in unit lines). Vehicles awaiting repair/collection or undergoing planned conversion are also included. (2) Redundant vehicles are those over and above the total fleet requirement and 'not repairable' refers to those that are beyond economic repair. (3) One hull awaiting a repair decision.

Military Corrective Training Centre: Young People

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people under 18 years old have been detained with adults in the Military Correction Training Centre in Colchester in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age,  (b) sex,  (c) ethnic origin and  (d) disability.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of individuals under 18 years of age who have been detained at the Military Corrective Training Centre in each of the last five years, broken down by sex, is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of detainees 
			  1 April to 31 March each year  Male  Female  Total 
			 2003-04 7 2 9 
			 2004-05 16 1 17 
			 2005-06 3 0 3 
			 2006-07 12 0 12 
			 2007-08 4 1 5 
		
	
	All of these detainees were aged 17, and their ethnic origin was White British; none were disabled.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which customers purchased  (a) spare capacity training and  (b) spare capacity resources from RAF Halton in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The RAF has had a contract with HORIZON to market spare training capacity at RAF Halton since 2001. I am withholding the list of HORIZON'S customers as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. Details of customers for spare capacity at RAF Halton prior to 2001 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Since financial year 2004-05, approximately 1,500 customers have purchased spare resource capacity from RAF Halton. I will write to the hon. Member with the names of these customers.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to David Lidington:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 July 2008, (Official Report, column 177W) that asked for a list of customers who purchased spare capacity training and spare capacity resources from RAF Halton in each year since1998.
	The list of customers who have purchased spare resource capacity is detailed below, as promised. RAF Halton holds records of these customers from the beginning of Financial Year 2001-02.
	However the IT system at the station was not working when I originally answered this question. Using this newly accessible information, officials have clarified that the number of different customers is in fact around 260 since 2001-02 rather than 1,500 since 2004-05 quoted previously. On further investigation, the information in the original answer turned out to be the number of enquiries the station received concerning spare resource capacity rather than the number of actual customers. I apologise for this error.
	Included within these figures are some 80 individuals who have purchased spare resource capacity from RAF Halton whose names have been withheld from this list in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
	Records before 2001-02 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	 Customers who have purchased spare resource capacity from RAF Halton since Financial Year 2001-02
	1st Seaton Scouts
	2 Shires Ambulance
	Active Sports Bucks
	Adidas
	Age Concern Bucks
	Aid for Aid
	Aircrew Association
	Alliotts Accountants
	Ambulance Service
	AMS Facilities Management
	APPSS
	Archive Acumen
	Aylesbury Canine Training Society
	Aylesbury Disabled Club
	Aylesbury Grammar School
	Aylesbury Hockey Club
	Aylesbury Rugby Club
	Aylesbury Schools
	Aylesbury Swimming Club
	Aylesbury Table Tennis Club
	Aylesbury Town FC
	Aylesbury United
	Aylesbury Vale District Council
	Aylesbury Vale Primary Schools
	Aylesbury Vale Schools Cross Country
	Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club
	Aylesbury Young Carers
	BA Forensic Odontology
	BAES
	BBC Childrens TV
	BBC History Unit
	BBC TV
	BBOWT
	BCC Green Park Centre
	Babcock
	Berkhamsted College
	Berkhamsted Collegiate School
	Bierton CofE School
	Blundell
	BSIProduct Services
	Buckinghamshire County Council
	Bucks Archery Association
	Bucks Carers
	Bucks Colts Rugby
	Bucks County RFC
	Bucks County Youth Rugby
	Bucks Cricket Board
	Bucks Economic Partnership
	Bucks Fire  Rescue
	Bucks Hockey Association
	Bucks Hockey Development
	Bucks Hockey U16 girls
	Bucks RFU
	Bucks U13 Girls Cricket
	Bucks U15 Rugby
	Calibre Cassette Library
	Canada Womens Rugby
	Caravan Club
	Carnival Films
	Celtic Warriors
	Cherry Tree Nursery
	Chesham United Football Club
	Chilterns MS Centre
	Cliff Productions
	DAF Trucks
	Danesfield (Thames) Club
	Dangerous Films
	DARA
	DE Havilland Moth Club
	Doncaster Lakers
	DPA
	Dr Challoner's Grammar School
	Dutchess Productions
	Endamole
	ESKI (UK)
	ESS
	Eurest
	FARO
	Flames Netball Club
	Fleet Support
	Friends of Florence Nightingale
	Fleet Support
	Fly Boy Films Ltd
	Granada Screen Ltd
	Greenlit Productions
	Green Park Centre
	Green Park Sub-aqua
	Green Park Youth Service
	Halton Aeroplane Club
	Halton Brownies
	Halton Parish Council
	Halton Singers
	Halton Tennis Centre
	Halton Voluntary Band
	Heckler  Koch
	Henley Rugby Club
	Hertfordshire District Sea Scouts
	Holby City
	HOSDB
	Hughes of Beaconsfield
	Ian Rennie Hospice
	I Mech E
	Inovus
	Intelligent Archives Ltd
	International Model Exhibition
	Irish Colleges Rugby
	Jaguar Drivers Club
	John Colet School
	Joint Services Physio School
	KBO Productions
	Knowledge Pool
	Kudos Hustle Ltd
	Landmark Support Services
	Leighton Buzzard Swimming Club
	London Weekend Television
	Map Action
	Michael Turner Art
	Motivation Group
	Netjets
	North Bucks County Netball
	OHES Environmental Consultancy
	Outline Productions
	Paper Plane (IoM) Ltd
	Pathe Films
	Peregrine's Tennis Club
	Pilot Warehouse
	PMRAFNS Association
	Principal Actor Film
	PSDB
	RAFA Aylesbury
	RAF Tennis Centre
	Regt Officers Fund
	Risborough Rangers
	Rogue Male Films
	Rotary Clubs of Aylesbury
	Rothschilds Arms
	Royal College of GPs
	Rugby Canada U19
	Rugby Football Union
	Rugby Football Union England U18
	Rugby Football Union for Women
	Serco
	Shudokan Club
	SMG Media Group
	SOCA
	Society of Local Council Clerks
	South Central Ambulance Service
	SSAFA
	SSVC
	St John's Ambulance
	St Michael's Church
	Straight Talking
	Sweden Womens Rugby
	Symbiotics
	Thales
	Thames Valley Police
	The Caravan Club
	Tring Athletic Football Club
	Tring Corinthians
	Tring Hockey Club
	Tring Town Football Club
	Two Men Went to War
	Turner Art Exhibition
	USA Women's National Rugby Team
	Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club
	Vale of Aylesbury Hunt
	Vale of Aylesbury Sponsored Ride
	Victoria Paints Ltd
	Warner Bros
	Wasps Rugby Club
	Watford Junior Football Club
	Wendover Badminton Club
	Wendover Choral Society
	Wendover Football Club
	Wendover Harriers
	Wendover Junior Football Club
	Wendover Scouts
	Weston Turville Cricket Club
	Wright Football
	Wycombe Wanderers Football Club
	Zephyr Films
	Around 80 bookings from individuals (Details withheld under the Data Protection Act)

RAF St. Athan

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 15 July 2008,  Official Report, column 314W, on RAF St. Athan, whether it is planned to make the Defence Technical Academy available to military personnel from friendly foreign states; and what accommodation facilities are planned for the academy.

Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces have a long tradition of delivering military training to foreign students and it is likely that this arrangement will continue at the Defence Technical Academy at St. Athan. The Defence Training Review Package 1 project has a requirement to provide a full range of service accommodation for all entitled service personnel who are either attending courses or serving on the staff of the Defence Technical Academy St. Athan.

Wind Power

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning applications for onshore wind turbines have been objected to by his Department in the period 1 January to 30 June 2008; and what percentage this represented of the number of onshore wind applications to which his Department had been invited to respond during that period.

Derek Twigg: Between 1 January and 30 June 2008 the Department objected to only 18 planning applications for onshore wind turbines (see following table). These represented 18 per cent. of the total number of onshore wind turbine applications about which we were consulted during that time.
	
		
			  Site name  Consenting authority  Reason for MOD objection 
			 South Denes Great Yarmouth Borough Council Holding objection issued as awaiting details of proposal from Council 
			 Dusty Drum Angus Council Interference with Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar 
			 Hawthorn District of Easington Council Interference with Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar 
			 Waun Garno Powys County Council Interference with Low Flying 
			 Sedborough Torridge District Council Interference with National Air Traffic Services (NATS) radar 
			 Normanton Wakefield District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Redland Caradon County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Hook Moor Leeds City Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Kings Lynn Wind Park Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Glittering South Cambridgeshire District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Gwyndy Quarry Gaia 1 Isle of Anglesey Council Interference with ATC radar and Low Flying 
			 Rothes Extension Scottish Government Interference with ATC radar 
			 Shipping Hill Plantation Pembrokeshire County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 Kingthorpe Stables West Lindsey Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 St. Fergus Wind Turbine Aberdeenshire Council Interference with Air Defence Radar (ADR) 
			 Withernwick East Riding Council Interference with Air Defence Radar (ADR) 
			 The Firs Aberdeenshire Council Interference with Air Defence Radar (ADR) 
			 Brunei University Hillingdon Council Interference with ATC radar 
		
	
	Since 2001 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has raised no objection to planning applications for almost 5,600 turbines (both onshore and offshore) which would, if all were consented and built, generate approximately 14.5 GW of electricity.
	The MOD fully supports the Government's renewable energy policies and targets and considers every application received individually. We continue to work closely with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the British Wind Energy Association and other stakeholders in seeking solutions to problems.
	The MOD is one of the signatories to the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the wind energy industry and Government and we were also heavily involved in producing the recent BERR sponsored Aviation Plan which sets out a structured way forward for addressing the need to try to find solutions for the effects of wind turbines on radar and other aviation interests. We are also represented on the newly formed Aviation Management Board and Aviation Advisory Panel which will oversee the work contained within the Aviation Plan.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 190452, tabled on 26 February 2008, on theft of military supplies in transit from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 July 2008,  Official  R eport, columns 1051-52W.

TREASURY

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: Since 1999 the Government have published, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House. The cost of expenses for advisers travel for their travel in the company of Ministers is included in the annual list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers.
	Information regarding special advisers' expenses for domestic travel could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Responsibilities

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which projects his Department has commissioned from  (a) think tanks and  (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid.

Angela Eagle: As there is no clear definition of what constitutes a think tank it is not possible to answer the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question. Information relating to project work done by charities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Angela Eagle: HMRC's green travel strategy is contained within the Department's Sustainable Development Action Plan, which was published in 2007. HMRC also encourages the development of regional green travel plans that are administered on a local level and can be tailored to suit local staff and business needs. HMRC is in the process of updating its plan to reflect revised baselines and new actions in support of Sir Gus O'Donnell's recent response to feedback from the Sustainable Development Commission. I am willing to place a copy of this revised plan in the Library.
	The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not have a separate transport plan. The VOA is included in HMRC's Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP), which includes a green transport strategy, published in 2007.
	The Royal Mint introduced its green transport plan in 1999. A copy has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	Office of Government Commerce, OGC Buying Solutions, Government Actuaries Department, National Savings and Investments do not currently have a green transport plan.
	HM Treasury does not have a green transport plan, but has included detailed information on transport in the 2007-2008 Annual Report.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of overseas visits made by members of staff in his Department in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: In 2007-08, overseas travel and subsistence costs for the Treasury were 1,420,000. In respect of total cost for earlier years, I refer to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1186W.

Mortgage Interest Relief at Source Scheme

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on tax relief under the Mortgage Interest Relief at Source scheme in each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Information on the cost of mortgage interest relief is published in table 5.1 Mortgage Interest Relief on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/mir/menu.htm

Motor Vehicles: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will develop policies to assist rural motorists who have no alternative to car transport in areas where petrol prices are particularly high.

Angela Eagle: The Government recognise the pressure that record high fuel prices are placing on motorists, particularly those in rural areas. It is for this reason that the UK continues to lead international efforts to address inefficiencies in the international oil market and increase oil price stability.
	In addition, it is for this reason that the Chancellor has announced that the planned 2p per litre increase in fuel duty has been postponed for this year. Fuel duty therefore remains at 50.35p per litre, 17 per cent., lower in real terms than in 1999, when the fuel duty escalator was abolished.

National Income

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the Exchequer of calculating the UK's gross domestic product.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 1 September 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning the annual cost to the Exchequer of calculating the UK's Gross Domestic Product. (220692)
	GDP is just one output of the process to compile UK National Accounts, and is based on a large number of data sources. It is compiled according to three approachesthe production, income and expenditure measureseach of which uses different methods and sources. The three approaches are balanced, so that a single estimate of GDP is published in both cash (current prices) and real (constant prices) terms. It is difficult, therefore, to estimate the cost of producing GDP figures alone, but, including the cost of its component sources, we estimate that GDP costs ONS around 10 million to produce.
	Details of the full ONS operating costs are available in our annual report.

Oil: Prices

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the assumed price of oil was, in dollars, on which the 2008 Budget was based.

Jane Kennedy: The oil price assumption at Budget 2008 can be found in box C1 of the Budget 2008.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1625-6W, on stamp duties, 
	(1)  whether an energy performance certificate can be used to indicate compliance with zero-carbon status for stamp duty purposes;
	(2)  how many dwellings have been subject to stamp duty tax relief on zero carbon homes.

Kitty Ussher: Between October 2007 and June 2008 a total of 13 dwellings have claimed the stamp duty relief for a new zero carbon home. The purpose of the tax relief is to provide more new energy efficient technologies in homes. The Government expect the numbers of qualifying homes to be low in the first few years, but to rise as more properties eligible to claim the relief are developed.
	The Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) level 6 and zero carbon home standards are related but not identical. Therefore, while an EPC itself does not specify whether or not the home meets the standard for a zero carbon home, in many cases the information it contains may be sufficient to demonstrate that the zero carbon homes standard has been met. In this case a further inspection of the building is not required for the purpose of the zero carbon home certification.

Tax Yields: Sustainable Development

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue accrued to his Department from  (a) climate change levy receipts,  (b) the non-fossil fuel obligation,  (c) the auction of EU Emissions Trading Scheme allowances,  (d) transport fuel duty,  (e) the fuel duty escalator,  (f) increased airport passenger duty and  (g) other financial measures designed to effect a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury routinely publishes the details of current receipts in successive pre-Budget and Budget reports. The latest information can be found in Table C6 of the 2008 Budget report at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/report/bud_bud08_repindex.cfm

Unemployment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps the Government have taken to reduce unemployment.

Angela Eagle: The Government's economic objective is to build a strong economy and a fair society, where there is opportunity and security for all. Since 1997 the Government have introduced a series of reforms, which have had a significant impact in tackling unemployment. As a result, the majority of JSA claimants move into work quicklyaround three-quarters move off benefit within six months. For those who remain on JSA, the flexible New Deal will be introduced from October 2009, replacing the existing New Deal programmes with earlier, more intensive and personalised support.
	On 21 July 2008, the Government published their Welfare Reform Green Paper, setting out a major package of welfare reform, with increased support in return for additional responsibilities.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of birds which have died from avian influenza in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the South West region and  (d) England in the last two years.

Jonathan R Shaw: I assume the hon. Member means both wild birds and commercial poultry. It is extremely difficult to give an accurate estimate of birds that have died as a result of avian influenza infection. Although some birds tested positive for avian influenza by laboratory tests, they may not have died as a result of the disease (e.g. wild birds may have died as a result of predation, cold weather or a number of other natural causes).
	The following table shows the number of commercial poultry, by species, that were culled as a result of DEFRA's disease control policy, or, wild birds that were submitted as part of the Avian Influenza surveillance programme and that were positive for AI by laboratory testing. In both cases, not all birds would have died from AI infection. Many of the commercial poultry that were culled would have been infected but alive and many not infected at the time of culling, but killed to manage the risk of disease spread because they were part of the same epidemiological unit and had been clearly exposed to infection. Many wild bird and water fowl species may act as carriers for the virus but do not show clinical signs of illness so it is not possible to provide or estimate the number which may be killed by the virus in the wild.
	This information is based on the number of commercial poultry culled during outbreaks of Avian Influenza since July 2006 and the number of AI-positive wild birds submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for testing as part of the on-going AI surveillance programme.
	
		
			  Location  Number of wild birds  Number of poultry 
			 Cornwall 0 0 
			
			 Each constituency in Cornwall 0 0 
			
			 South West region (Dorset) 11 0 
			
			 England 14 Turkeys: 193,714 
			   Peacocks: 3 
			   Geese: 4,572 
			   Ducks: 52,118 
			   Laying hens: 24,895 
			
			 Total birds culled in England in the last two years  275,302 
		
	
	Although the data in this table give an indication of the number of birds killed by AI in the last two years, this number represents a relatively low proportion of the commercial poultry industry. Due to the current high level of vigilance in the poultry industry, suspect Avian Influenza cases are notified very quickly, enabling a rapid response by DEFRA and Animal Health, so we have been able to control this disease quickly and effectively where it is identified in commercial poultry flocks.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on his policy on bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed the content of the recent bovine tuberculosis announcement with Commissioner Vasilliou. DEFRA officials also engage with the Commission regularly in discussions about control of the disease.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the pilot badger cull in combating bovine tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The ministerial decision in Wales allows Welsh Assembly officials to consider all the options for culling badgers as part of an 'intensive action area'. Final decisions on what this will involve are not expected before the end of the year. No discussions have been held.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister in Wales on the effectiveness of the pilot badger cull in combating bovine tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Minister of Rural Affairs in Wales' decision allows the Welsh Assembly to consider all the options for culling badgers as part of an 'intensive action area'. Final decisions on what this will involve are not expected before the end of the year. No discussions have yet been held.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers the EU has in relation to the control of bovine TB in the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: The requirements under European law to control the spread of TB are set out in EU directive 64/432/EEC, a trade directive covering health requirements for cattle and pigs.
	In addition, directives 77/391, (as amended by directive 82/400), and 78/52, set out the requirements for member states in relation to eradication plans for a number of endemic diseases, including bovine TB.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from Sir David King on his policy on bovine TB; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Sir David King has not made any representations to the Secretary of Sate since the latest TB announcement. However, the Secretary of State met with him as part of the decision-making process leading up to the announcement.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Lancashire

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis have occurred in Lancaster and Wyre constituency since 2005.

Jonathan R Shaw: Bovine tuberculosis data are collated on a county or regional basis. It is not possible to break the data down to a constituency level.
	A full county breakdown of TB herd and animal statistics is published on the DEFRA website.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to hold discussions with the European Commission to initiate a vaccination of cattle strategy against bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) has discussed vaccination of cattle in a phone conversation with Commissioner Vasilliou. They agreed to keep in touch on the issue but no further discussions are planned at this time. DEFRA officials have also had initial discussions with Commission officials on cattle vaccination and will continue to engage with the Commission as any cattle vaccination strategy is developed.

Carbon Emissions: Developing Countries

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on amending the Linking Directive of the European Emissions Trading Scheme to enable the inclusion, under the scheme, of carbon credits from forest projects in the developing world.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 17 July 2008
	We are currently consulting on changes to the European Union emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) in light of the European Commission's proposed climate and energy package. Credits from reforestation and afforestation projects require a robust monitoring system, an understanding of the potential impact on the EU ETS allowance price, and assurance that non-permanent credits would not damage the environmental integrity of the scheme, before they can be included in the EU ETS.
	It is not currently possible to credit projects that seek to avoid deforestation as this is not provided for within the scope of the Kyoto protocol. However, we recognise the importance of addressing this issue and we are working through the international climate negotiations for an agreement on reducing emissions from deforestation for post-2012. I welcome the provision contained in the European Commission's proposal for new crediting mechanisms under an international agreement which would give the flexibility to include credits from avoided deforestation and other land use activities in future phases of the EU ETS.

Climate Change: Research

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of spending from the public purse on research into climate science in the last three years.

Phil Woolas: Government expenditure on research which relates to climate change in 2006-07 (latest available figure) was approximately 139 million. The majority of this amount was provided through the research councils. DEFRA's total expenditure on climate change research (including projects of a cross-cutting nature which are of relevance to climate change) over the last three years was 79.4 million (23.7 million in 2005-06, 24.7 million in 2006-07, and 31.0 million in 2007-08). DEFRA's spend on climate science research over the last three years totalled 52.7 million (15.7 million in 2005-06, 17.4 million in 2006-07 and 19.6 million in 2007-08).
	The UK's leading role in delivering climate change policy has been built on its world-leading research and DEFRA is committed to continuing support in this area.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 721-22W, on departmental ICT.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of staff in DEFRA and its agencies who have taken early retirement in the past two years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 DEFRA 231 657 
			 AH 0 0 
			 CEFAS 6 9 
			 CSL 2 1 
			 GDS 0 0 
			 MFA 3 1 
			 RPA 5 14 
			 VLA 2 0 
			 VMD 0 0 
			 Total 249 682

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: Departmental records show that the Department, including its executive agencies, has  (a) submitted 30 planning applications and  (b) made one licensing application in respect of its property holdings.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  Furniture e xpenditure  Art e xpenditure 
			 2007-08 140,268.65  
			 2006-07 90,347.49  
			 2005-06 1,114,962.40 11,591.28 
		
	
	It is the policy of DEFRA, its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and, where appropriate, its sponsored organisations to make financial redress in accordance with the guidance set out in Chapter 4.12, Annex 4.14 of HM Treasury's publication 'Managing Public Money'.
	The capital expenditure on vehicles, as disclosed in DEFRA's Resource Accounts, for the last three financial years, is as follows:
	
		
			   Core Department  Vehicle Capital Expenditure  (000) 
			 2005-06 770 
			 2006-07 674 
			 2007-08 97 
		
	
	As indicated, the expenditure is for vehicles purchased by the Core Department only. Information for DEFRA's Agencies and NDPBs is not held centrally by the Department, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Retirement

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: When the new age legislation came into force on 1 October 2006, the Department, along with all of its Agencies, changed its retirement policies. With the exception of Animal Health and the Central Science Laboratory, there is no longer a set retirement age for employees below the senior civil service. Members of staff can work as long as they wish subject to the normal performance, conduct and attendance requirements.
	Animal Health and the Central Science Laboratory currently have a retirement age of 65. However, employees are entitled to request to work beyond 65.
	The current retirement age for members of the senior civil service is 65. If an employee wishes to stay beyond 65 they can do so, provided it has been agreed by the Permanent Secretary or the relevant agency chief executive.
	Three members of staff below the SCS in core DEFRA have retired on or on the day before their 65th birthday since October 2006, when new age legislation came into force. However, it is not possible to differentiate between those staff who have chosen to retire on reaching 65 years of age and any staff who may have been asked to retire.

Departmental Secondment

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff working in his Department were on secondment from  (a) the British Wind Energy Association,  (b) RWE and  (c) AEA at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the (i) name, (ii) job title, (iii) primary function and (iv) remuneration is of each such staff member.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are currently no staff working in DEFRA who are on secondment from RWE or AEA. Two individuals are on secondment from member organisations of the British Wind Energy Association (Shell and npower).
	(i) We are withholding the names of the individuals as we consider that disclosure would not be fair and would, therefore, breach the first principle of the Data Protection Act 1998. (ii) and (iii) One individual works within the office of climate change at grade 6 and the other in the domestic climate change and energy directorate at grade 7. (iv) The individuals are not remunerated by DEFRA so we do not hold this information.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies in the last 24 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the number of electronic passes recorded as lost and stolen from core DEFRA and its agencies between 1 January 2006 to 1 June 2008. The table has been compiled from information that was readily available. All electronic passes reported as lost or stolen are cancelled immediately on the access control system making them invalid. Losses of paper escorted and unescorted visitor passes (which are not able to activate access control points) are rare and are not recorded.
	
		
			   Lost  Stolen 
			 DEFRA Core Department 364 28 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 20 0 
			 Central Science Laboratory 16 1 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency/Veterinary Medicines Directorate 35 1 
			 Rural Payments Agency 120 17 
			  Note:  Losses and thefts relating to passes issued to the Marine Fisheries Agency, the Government Decontamination Service and Pesticides Safety Directorate are included in the figures for DEFRA core Department. Figures do not include Animal Health as information is not available.

Domestic Wastes: Contracts

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1240W, on domestic wastes: contracts, when each of the projects will be placed in the Library.

Joan Ruddock: I can confirm that projects WR0107, WR0112, WR0512 and WR0601 were placed in the House Library on 9 May.
	Projects WR0103 and WR0104 are now also complete and I am making arrangements for them to be placed in the House Library as well. WR0106 is in the final stages of peer review, while project WR0506 is still ongoing and unlikely to be ready for a few months.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1658W, on domestic waste: waste management, and 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1239W, on domestic wastes: contract, on what date his Department received the report Potential health risks to humans from birds, mammals and insects associated with UK waste management operations: Final Report; and what steps he has taken in response to the evidence in the report on the links between fortnightly and weekly rubbish collections and public health risks.

Joan Ruddock: An early draft of research report WR0601 was submitted in December 2005. The report was completed in January 2006 and was published as part of the new science information system which went live on the DEFRA website in February 2007. This scoping report provided suggestions for further research, one area being further investigation of any health-related implications of changes to waste collection routines.
	Further work was commissioned in 2006 by Wycombe district council with funding being provided by the DEFRA Waste Implementation Programme (WIP)(1). This work reported in February 2007 and is available electronically on the contractor's website. It provides a review of the potential for health impacts to occur from alternate week waste collection schemes, principally in comparison with weekly collection schemes, using the scheme operated by Wycombe district council as a case study. The study was carried out to investigate any issues relating to odours, insects, rodents and the risks of disease. The research literature consulted provided no evidence that alternate week residual and biodegradable waste collection will cause any significant health impacts for residents, or that any health impacts are likely to be significantly greater than those associated with weekly collections. This is consistent with wider studies of the health effects of waste management, which indicate that all methods of waste management can have at most a minor effect on health(2). The Wycombe study goes on to recommend some common-sense steps that can be taken to alleviate amenity issues (e.g. keeping containers clean, not shredding or chopping kitchen waste before disposal, keeping containers outdoors, avoiding shelter opportunities for rodents, waste wrapped or in containers etc.).
	Subsequently, in July 2007, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) published guidance for local authorities on the design and implementation of alternate weekly collection services, in order to provide practical advice for waste managers and elected members within local authorities(3). This report references the Enviros 2007 report in commenting on health and amenity issues.
	All further relevant research undertaken will be published on the DEFRA website.
	(1) Enviros (2007) Health Impact Assessment of Alternative Week Waste Collections of Biodegradable Waste. A report by Cranfield university and Enviros Consulting. DEFRA Waste Implementation ProgrammeWycombe district council. Report DE0110102 A, Enviros Consulting Ltd. (February 2007)
	(2 )DEFRA (2004) Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste and Similar Waste. A report by Enviros in association with the university of Birmingham. Product code PB9052A.
	(3 )WRAP (2007) Alternate weekly collections guidance (Project code: ROT 028) ISBN: 1-84405-337-7.

Energy

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many meetings he and his officials have had with representatives of  (a) the nuclear energy and nuclear waste industry and  (b) the combined heat and power industry since January 2007; who attended each meeting; when each such meeting was held; and what matters were discussed;
	(2)  what research his Department has commissioned on  (a) nuclear energy and nuclear waste and  (b) combined heat and power in the last two years for which figures are available; and what the budget was for each piece of research.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 21 July 2008
	DEFRA Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of the nuclear waste and nuclear energy industry, including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), its site operating companies and British Energy to discuss issues including radioactive waste management, radioactive discharges, legislation and regulation.
	DEFRA Ministers and officials also regularly meet with representatives of the combined heat and power (CHP) industry, including the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA), to discuss a range of issues.
	DEFRA has not commissioned any specific research on nuclear energy and nuclear waste in the last two years. We recently published the 2007 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory with the NDA and this was commissioned in 2005. The inventory is available on the NDA's website.
	In the last two years DEFRA has commissioned five research studies on CHP, copies of which are available on the DEFRA website.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2723W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are available for purchase in his Department's staff catering facilities; what value of Fairtrade produce was purchased in his Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of total revenue this represented.

Jonathan R Shaw: Fairtrade products available at Baxterstorey operated DEFRA staff restaurants, total value purchased as well as percentage of total revenue Fairtrade products represented from February 2005 to February 2008.
	
		
			  Products  Percentage  Value () 
			 Fairtrade pulses 0.25 3,726 
			 Fairtrade fruit and nuts 3.25 48,440 
			 Fairtrade chocolate and snacks 2.25 33,536 
			 Fairtrade fruit juice 0.75 11,179 
			 Fairtrade tea and coffee 23.00 342,808 
			 Fairtrade sugar 3.75 55,893 
			 Fairtrade soft drinks 0.75 11,179 
			 Total Fairtrade 34 506,759

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2723W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this total was spent on Fairtrade products.

Jonathan R Shaw: Total hospitality spent and percentage of Fairtrade.
	
		
			   Hospitality spent ()  Fairtrade percentage  Fairtrade value () 
			 2005 199,863.00 58 115,920.54 
			 2006 456,631.00 52 264,845.98 
			 2007 492,804.00 55 285,826.32 
			 Total 1,149,298.00 55 666,592.84

Farms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in discussions with farmers and farming organisations on cost-sharing.

Jonathan R Shaw: Following the completion of the work of the UK Consultative Forum (comprising the main UK farming unions and Government representatives from the devolved administrations and DEFRA), the Government intend to consult this autumn on specific proposals for implementing responsibility and cost sharing for animal health and welfare.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he is taking to stop the practice of discards in fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the pilot scheme that has been undertaken for inshore vessels.

Jonathan R Shaw: Under the EU's cod recovery programme, the UK is trialling a real-time closure mechanism designed to ensure vessels avoid significant concentrations of the species, particularly of spawning and juvenile fishand thus reduce the need to discard. In addition, commercial trials are being undertaken to identify how certain gears can be made more selective. We will provide encouragement for the widespread deployment of those found to be effective amongst our fleetand will press the Commission for them to be applied Community-wide.
	The initial phase of the Irish Sea Data Enhancement Pilot was completed recently. Fisheries dependent data are being cross-checked against observer data collected from vessels in the same fishery. This validation process is essential to ensure that the estimates of discards that result from the project are both realistic and representative.
	I announced in February 2008 an environmentally responsible fishing pilot research project. The aim of the 12-month project is to quantify all components of the environmental footprint of commercial fishing vessels targeting quota stocks in inshore waters of the North sea off England. The project will collect data across a range of indicators associated with the fishing operation, marketing and ancillary services and will make an important contribution to the implementation of Fisheries 2027, DEFRA's long-term vision for sustainable fisheries. Around 30 fishing vessels from Hartlepool, Lowestoft and the Thames estuary have been invited to take part. Training and installation of vessel monitoring equipment and is expected to start in July with all participating vessels operating under the scheme from August.

Flood Control: Somerset

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure of internal drainage boards in the Somerset Levels and Moors has been since 1987.

Phil Woolas: The following tables show a breakdown of  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure of internal drainage boards in the Somerset Levels and Moors since 1999, the earliest period for which figures are available without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Capital expenditure 
			   
			  Capital  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Lower Axe IDB 5,494 3,236 2,733 8,241 32,323 24,685 (1)  
			 Lower Brue DDB 59,130 54,800 104,952 89,811 137,509 41,159 (1)  
			 Upper Axe IDB  2,591 (1)  
			 Upper Brue IDB  7,753 (1)  
			 West Mendip IDB   25,576 7,794 18,925 70,305 (1) 16,697 
			 North Somerset IDB 7,082 3,358  14,011 3,436 16,940 (1) 13,949 
			 (1) Information not collected. 
		
	
	
		
			  Other expenditure 
			   
			  Other  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Lower Axe IDB 78,777 76,934 106,151 103,455 112,501 150,132 (1)  
			 Lower Brue DDB 194,732 208,233 225,267 242,299 258,254 221,712 (1)  
			 Upper Axe IDB 40,200 39,822 44,339 45,207 47,466 52,785 (1) 61,273 
			 Upper Brue IDB 123,263 128,559 155,502 149,961 160,913 176,193 (1) 184,859 
			 West Mendip IDB 108,238 113,933 121,380 185,796 164,417 162,207 (1) 186,796 
			 North Somerset IDB 68,040 79,715 93,582 103,460 97,923 97,069 (1) 152,108 
			 (1) Information not collected.

Flood Control: Somerset

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) local environment agency plans,  (b) catchment flood management plans,  (c) water management studies and  (d) other catchment studies have been undertaken by the Environment Agency and its predecessors in the Somerset Levels and Moors since 1987.

Phil Woolas: I have placed the requested information in the Libraries of the House.

Marine Bill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which  (a) Government departments and  (b) stakeholders responded to the Marine Bill consultation.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department received 3,929 responses to the public consultation on the Government's draft Marine Bill. In addition, approximately 11,000 postcards were received from the Ramblers' Association supporting the coastal access provisions.
	Of the 3,929 responses, 3,504 were campaign responses from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Friends of the Earth. The remaining 425 responses were received from stakeholders including members of the public, public bodies and bodies representing environmental, fisheries, local government, ports, energy, heritage, shipping, aggregates and recreational issues.

Marine Bill

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Marine Bill will fully implement the provisions necessary to implement the EU Marine Strategy Directive.

Jonathan R Shaw: The marine strategy framework directive sets the overall goal of achieving good environmental status for Europe's seas by 2020.
	The directive entered into force on 15 July 2008 and member states have two years from that date to transpose it into UK law. The UK will transpose the directive to this timetable using regulations under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.
	Although the Marine Bill will not be used as the legislative vehicle which transposes the directive, the draft Bill includes a range of specific measures and tools to better protect and manage UK marine waters. These will contribute to the directive's goal of achieving good environmental status. The two pieces of legislation can therefore be seen as complementary.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the highest 10 payments made by his Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The highest 10 payments made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it over the last 12 months are as follows:
	
		
			
			 1. Claim in relation to a fall from height during a cleaning and disinfection operation 135,500 
			 2. Claim in relation to injury sustained from a falling object 48,000 
			 3. Claim in relation to an injury sustained in handling livestock 40,000 
			 4. Claim in relation to an injury caused by a slip on a wet floor 17,000 
			 5. Claim in relation to an injury caused by a trip 5,600 
			 6. Claim in relation to an injury sustained in an office 5,000 
			 7. Claim in relation to an injury sustained in handling livestock 4,857.08 
			 8. Claim in relation to an injury caused by a fall 4,133 
			 9. Claim in relation to a hand injury 3,000 
			 10.Claim in relation to repetitive strain injury 2,750 
		
	
	None of these cases were contested in court.

Poultry: EU Action

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he expects secondary legislation to be brought forward on the transposition of the EU Broiler Chicken Directive into UK law;
	(2)  if he will consider the case, when bringing forward secondary legislation to transpose the EU Broiler Chicken Directive into EU law, for setting the UK maximum stocking density at 30kg per square metre;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the transposition of the EU Chicken Broiler Directive into UK law on the level of UK animal welfare standards.

Jonathan R Shaw: We welcome EU directive 2007/43/EC setting out minimum standards for the welfare of broiler chickens, which was agreed in June 2007. The directive will deliver real welfare benefits for broilers while balancing economic, social and environmental impacts.
	Legislation to implement the directive into UK law will be produced to meet the directive implementation date of 30 June 2010.
	There is no maximum stocking density for intensive meat chicken production currently set down in domestic law. A full public consultation will be undertaken early next year on the proposed legislation, including provisions on stocking density.

Recycling

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to encourage recycling with the use of financial incentives.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill includes powers for up to five local authorities in England to pilot waste incentive schemes, to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	It will be up to local authorities to decide whether they wish to apply to be a pilot and the form of their proposals, including whether for reward only or charge and reward schemes. All schemes must encourage householders to reduce the amount of waste they produce and increase the amount they recycle.

Rural Payments Agency

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the fee imposed for stage 2 appeal applications against decisions taken by the Rural Payments Agency; and whether he plans to amend the fee structure for such appeals.

Jonathan R Shaw: An appellant is required to provide a cheque for 100 if they proceed to stage 2 of one of the formal appeal procedures administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). This fee is refunded if the appeal is fully or partially successful. The payment is enabled under the Statutory Instruments that support the appeal procedures.
	RPA has occasionally been asked the reason for charging the fee.
	There are no plans to amend the fee structure for such appeals.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the impact on proposed UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation sites of fishing vessels from  (a) the Netherlands,  (b) Belgium,  (c) Norway,  (d) Denmark,  (e) Germany,  (f) Spain,  (g) France,  (h) Ireland and  (i) Portugal is being assessed.

Jonathan R Shaw: JNCC advise that a preliminary assessment of the sensitivity of proposed SACs habitats to a range of human activities, including fishing, was made in drawing up the draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations for each site published with the public consultation documents.
	This did not include an assessment of the impact of fishing vessels from individual countries.
	If the proposed SACs are submitted to the European Commission and adopted as sites of Community importance a further assessment of the impacts of fishing vessels, along with all potentially damaging human activities, will be made in order to produce final Conservation Objectives and Advice for Operations for all adopted sites.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Learning and Skills Council: Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what budget allocations have been made by the Learning and Skills Council for  (a) schools and  (b) further education colleges in each London borough (i) in each of the last three financial years and (ii) for each of the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The total LSC Adult Skills budget for London has increased as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			 2007-08 588 
			 2008-09 603 
			 2009-10 619 
			 2010-11 672 
		
	
	Details of the budget allocations made by the Learning and Skills Council for each of the London boroughs, relating to the last three financial years and for the next two is not collected at this level of detail by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC; decisions are made following discussions with local providers, partners and other organisations. This ensures that the needs of the local communities are met and that the activity delivered supports the council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 1 September 2008:
	In response to your question to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, I am able to provide information about the allocations made by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to school sixth forms and FE colleges in London.
	The LSC makes annual allocations to schools and FE colleges on an academic year basis. Funding for schools is allocated through the parent local authority. I have enclosed two summary tables in response to your question. Table A sets out the academic year funding allocations for all local authorities with school sixth forms in London in 2008-09, and for the previous three years. Allocations are made on an annual basis, one year in advance, and so the allocations for 2009-10 will be made in February 2009.
	The LSC does not fund academies, which are funded by DCSF directly, and these figures do not include academy funding. You will note that funding for School sixth forms in London has increased by over 9 per cent. in 2008-09 and has allowed us to fund over 5 per cent. more places.
	Table B sets out the funding that FE providers have received in 2008-09, and the three previous years.. It should be noted that this table classifies funding by provider borough: many FE providers operate across multiple boroughs and attract significant volumes of learners from other parts of London.
	I hope that you find this information useful. Should you require further information, please contact:
	Vic Grimes
	Area Director
	London South LSC
	Canius Houses
	1 Scarbrook Road
	Croydon CRO 1SQ
	Vic.grimes@lsc.gov.uk
	
		
			  (a) School sixth forms in London 
			   
			  LEA  n ame  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Camden London Borough Council 13,363,527 14,228,986 14,196,273 15,048,442 
			 Islington London Borough Council 2,548,334 2,566,643 1,671,080 1,948,062 
			 Lambeth London Borough Council 4,119,264 4,249,041 3,971,045 4,789,225 
			 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council 4,032,391 4,163,738 2,895,405 3,099,103 
			 Southwark London Borough Council 3,196,301 3,194,087 2,075,434 1,934,597 
			 Wandsworth London Borough Council 11,705,825 11,954,019 10,189,836 11,763,082 
			 Westminster City Council 8,211,566 7,508,399 5,742,366 6,437,139 
			 Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council 8,694,536 10,013,979 10,283,007 11,883,986 
			 Bexley London Borough Council 12,477,632 14,393,922 14,154,339 16,223,918 
			 Common Council of The City of London 5,948 7,487   
			 Greenwich London Borough Council 13,878,339 17,229,890 16,202,9'77 16,606,473 
			 Havering London Borough Council 6,114,777 6,485,657 5,845,493 6,476,417 
			 Lewisham London Borough Council 7,953,073 8,649,210 8,597,369 8,660,846 
			 Newham London Borough Council 3,899,957 4,179,464 3,760,403 4,192,002 
			 Redbridge London Borough Council 21,408,562 24,401,134 25,001,139 26,314,878 
			 The Learning Trust (Hackney) 3,112,548 3,803,358 3,982,414 4,145,912 
			 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council 8,262,137 9,561,778 8,903,638 11,395,646 
			 Barnet London Borough Council 20,458,574 21,619,992 19,981,388 21,618,507 
			 Enfield London Borough Council 17,826,820 19,036,321 18,671,996 18,638,905 
			 Haringey London Borough Council 8,430,212 8,613,205 10,384,226 11,303,487 
			 Waltham Forest London Borough Council 4,804,494 5,201,448 3,831,362 4,342,236 
			 Bromley London Borough Council 22,228,765 24,657,822 24,290,187 26,230,619 
			 Croydon London Borough Council 5,507,256 5,956,759 7,411,577 7,282,380 
			 Merton Borough Council 3,770,099 4,217,242 3,511,097 3,023,358 
			 Richmond Upon Thames Borough Council 360,743 401,567   
			 Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Council 11,231,079 12,103,387 12,043,258 13,290,990 
			 Sutton London Borough Council 16,278,170 17,129,916 17,568,390 18,932,818 
			 Brent London Borough Council 17,716,462 19,902,997 18,801,282 20,554,764 
			 Ealing London Borough Council 12,331,369 12,747,445 12,111,189 14,372,600 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council 7,528,563 8,118,577 7,182,701 7,379,008 
			 Harrow London Borough Council 677,454 766,559  6,102,981 
			 Hillingdon London Borough Council 16,297,800 17,884,981 16,875,189 17,801,925 
			 Hounslow London Borough Council 16,140,730 17,483,785 16,947,820 17,178,897 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) FE Colleges 
			   
			  Borough  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Barking 19,968,043 21,174,741 21,920,138 23,020,360 
			 Barnet 32,410,895 33,059,377 34,211,226 34,009,807 
			 Bexley 10,369,460 9,743,442 9,833,560 9,080,839 
			 Brent 29,828,693 28,229,661 26,914,860 27,044,348 
			 Bromley 24,581,006 24,730,461 24,665,705 24,993,535 
			 Camden 13,077,251 12,649,100 12,866,165 13,104,999 
			 Croydon 36,460,857 39,364,090 40,703,887 40,663,608 
			 Enfield 28,530,401 30,329,506 30,764,048 31,314,647 
			 Greenwich 13,833,420 13,863,845 13,628,983 13,151,366 
			 Hackney 45,598,018 45,795,803 45,059,909 44,411,749 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 41,479,000 41,508,407 41,436,257 42,966,868 
			 Haringey 24,633,015 24,397,304 24,430,925 25,713,127 
			 Harrow 29,661,000 31,711,662 34,360,611 32,136,826 
			 Havering 31,340,968 32,745,168 34,139,136 34,911,646 
			 Hillingdon 19,204,000 19,730,834 20,615,144 22,430,805 
			 Hounslow 16,507,000 17,410,402 17,870,623 18,483,282 
			 Islington 36,123,186 36,611,300 36,714,671 38,354,767 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 9,604,919 9,253,040 9,029,740 10,238,068 
			 Kingston 20,831,054 20,970,647 21,273,894 21,412,623 
			 Lambeth 35,683,709 35,213,169 35,299,215 36,525,662 
			 Lewisham 36,920,881 37,920,520 38,681,642 40,063,395 
			 Merton 12,426,918 12,718,567 12,866,441 13,904,143 
			 Newham 45,977,076 46,503,779 48,290,147 47,640,789 
			 Red bridge 10,624,598 12,000,884 12,291,740 12,710,661 
			 Richmond 28,264,265 28,770,992 29,228,386 30,773,885 
			 Southwark 21,678,393 22,115,664 22,734,932 23,871,707 
			 Sutton 14,976,290 15,367,548 15,605,932 15,940,469 
			 Tower Hamlets 23,302,396 23,554,084 23,767,773 22,396,198 
			 Waltham Forest 37,425,688 38,606,687 39,485,062 39,920,921 
			 Wandsworth 26,889,108 27,899,794 28,280,172 31,214,031 
			 Westminster 72,204,673 75,193,554 76,800,931 80,167,187

Adult Education: Crafts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding his Department makes available for adult courses in craft work in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to ensuring that learning serves the needs of the whole community and that everyone can lead healthy and fulfilling lives by participating fully in work, education and society as a whole. Our recent consultation on Informal Adult Learning has been looking closely at learning that helps develop families and communities by meeting the basic human need for creativity and stimulation. It has started a discussion which will lead to a new vision of Informal Adult Learning for the 21(st) century and we will publish our response to the consultation in September.
	The exact funding, makeup and distribution of learning provision at local level are matters for local Learning and Skills Councils and their partners in colleges and other providers, according to their assessment of local needs and priorities. Mark Haysom the LSC's Chief Executive will write to the hon. Lady with more detailed information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 16 July 2008:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked; how many students received monies from Learning Skills Council funding in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	There are only a limited number of programmes where LSC funding is received directly by students and these are within the Learner Support range of programmes.
	Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is an income assessed weekly allowance paid to learners from low income households to support them in learning undertaken beyond the statutory school leaving age. The allowance is paid on a 'something for something' basis and the learner may also receive bonuses where the learner remains on their learning programme, makes good progress and achieves the standards of behaviour and effort agreed with the learning provider. The table below shows the number of students who have received this allowance:
	
		
			  Education maintenance allowance 
			  Area type  Area name  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08( 1) 
			 National England 297,259 429,627 527,319 542,710 
			   
			 LSC North Yorkshire 2,684 5,161 6,219 6,293 
			 (1) Year to date28 August 2007 to 31 May 2008. 
		
	
	Adult Learning Grant (ALG) is, subject to a financial assessment, a weekly payment payable to adults aged 19+ undertaking full time studying towards their first full level 2 / 3 qualification. The table below shows the number of students who have received this grant:
	
		
			  Adult learning grant 
			  Area  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08( 1) 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 (2)225 300 
			 (1) As at 21 May 2008. (2) 1(st) year of national rollout.

Adult Education: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people in  (a) Hemsworth constituency and  (b) Wakefield District have been enrolled in adult education courses in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Our planned and continuing strategy is to realign funding from a high number of very short and low quality courses to qualifications such as Skills for Life, full level 2 and full level 3 that offer the greatest opportunity for adults to gain the skills for employability and further progression in learning.
	The following table shows the total number of Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded learners aged 19+ resident in  (a) Hemsworth constituency and  (b) Wakefield district from 2003/04, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
	
		
			  Number of LSC funded adult learners resident in Hemsworth constituency and Wakefield district 
			  Academic year  Hemsworth constituency  Wakefield district 
			 2003/04 8,640 29,230 
			 2004/05 8,600 28,750 
			 2005/06 7,890 25,370 
			 2006/07 7,650 25,500 
			  Notes:  1. Numbers in the table have been rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Figures cover Further Education, Work Based Learning, Adult Safeguarded Learning and Train to Gain provision (TTG started in 2005/06, with full rollout in 2006/07).   Source:  Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record. 
		
	
	We understand that as well as increasing skills, education is also about meeting the basic human desire for intellectual stimulation. That is why we have safeguarded 210 million each year through to 2010-11 to support informal adult learning. Through our recent consultation we have led discussion on a new vision for informal adult learning for the 21st century.

Apprenticeships

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps he has taken to increase the scope and quality of apprenticeships.

David Lammy: Expanding provision and raising quality are integral to our ambitious plans set out in World-class Apprenticeships. We are establishing the National Apprenticeship Service from April 2009 to ensure the growth of high quality provision of apprenticeships in England. The service will have responsibility for broadening the flexibilities of the Apprenticeship programme to enable employers to develop new apprenticeship frameworks, and to improve and encourage the range of frameworks available.
	The Learning and Skills Council will assess performance against minimum levels of performance for apprenticeships; develop a new apprenticeship blueprint which defines the core elements of an apprenticeship and specific training requirements; and work with the new Learning and Skills Improvement Service to secure continuous improvement in the provision of apprenticeships.
	Last week the Government published a draft Apprenticeships Bill to underpin and help sustain the improvements in the quality of the programme. This draft Bill will ensure that apprenticeships are a badge of quality skills for young people and adults and for employers. It will drive forward the provision of sufficient apprenticeship places to meet the entitlement for our young people to have an offer of an apprenticeship place by 2013
	The Department and the Department for Children, Schools and Families look forward to receiving comments on the draft Bill from hon. and right hon. Members and all those committed to providing high quality skills for people and employers.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each year since establishment; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: DIUS is a new department which has been in existence for just over one year. All DIUS staff are issued with laptops which are turned off and stored securely when not in use; there are circa 950 such laptops across the DIUS estate.
	The Department also has 50 modern energy saving desktops, primarily used by those individuals who, for a variety of reasons, cannot use their laptop on a particular day. Staff are advised to switch these off when not in use and by default these devices enter an energy saving mode when unattended.
	The cost of devices left on overnight has not been calculated.

Departmental Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Department has been from recycled sources.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established on 28 June 2007 and as such can report only on one year of activity for which the Department has been in operation.
	The percentage of paper from recycled sources used in the last financial years was:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Sheffield and London Reprographics 97 
			 National floor copiers (all 4 sites) 100 
			 Printed publications 75

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the estimated total cost to the public purse will be of all private finance initiative/public private partnership contracts for which his Department is responsible.

David Lammy: The Department does not have any private finance initiative contracts or public private partnership contracts. The cost to the public purse will be nil.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. Since the Department's creation the following has been spent on:
	
		
			
			 (a) New furnishings 376,780 
			 (b) Art 0 
			 (c) New vehicles 0

Departmental Publications

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what planned publication dates there are for  (a) statistical and  (b) other publications of his Department.

David Lammy: Details of forthcoming National Statistics publications can be found in our publication schedule, which is available on the Research and Statistics Gateway via the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/rsgateway/search.pl?cat=9subcat=9q1=Search
	Details for other publications of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are listed in the following table:
	
		
			   Other publications 
			 August-September 2008 UK Innovation Survey Commissioned Research Papers 
			 October 2008 Scoping Study for Matched Employer-employee Data 
			 October 2008 Alternative Routes into and Through HE 
			 August-September 2008 Design in innovation 
			 August-September008 Management Innovation and Economic Performance 
			 August-September 2008 Interdependence of Management and Technological Innovation 
			 July-August 2008 British Ethnic Minority Graduate Entrepreneurship 
			 August-early September2008 Impact of Skills for Life Learning: Longitudinal Survey of Adult Learners on College-based Literacy and Numeracy Courses 
			 August/early September Mapping Postgraduate Participation 
			 September 2008 Synthesis of International Evidence on Widening Participation 
			 September 2008 Teachers' Attitudes to Raising Young People's Aspirations towards HETBC 
			 Interim report possibly Augustfull report 2010 Use of an Aptitude Test in University EntranceA Validity Study Second Interim Report (TBC) 
			 August 2008 Research on private training markets 
			 September 2008 Graduate Earnings Premium: An up-date 
			 August 2008 Education and social mobility: A review of Longitudinal Data 
			 September-October 2008 Widening Participation Measures 
			 January 2009 Potential Higher Education Entrants StudyStrand 1 
			 October 2008 Annual Innovation Report 
			 Autumn 2008 2008 RD Scoreboard 
			 Autumn 2008 Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting out the requirement for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products. Consultation on the implementation of the regulation on accreditation that will be made available online in line with current guidelines on Government consultation 
			 Autumn 2008 Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common framework for the marketing of products. Consultation on the guidance document on a framework decision that will be made available online in line with current guidelines on Government consultation 
			 March 2009 The Strategic Plan for the National Measurement System 
			 Spring 2009 2009 Value Added Scoreboard 
			 May 2009 DIUS Annual Report 
			 July 2008 International comparative performance of the UK research base 2008 
			 October 2008 Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004:2014 
			 Autumn 2008 Office of Government Commerce will be publishing a leaflet on innovation procurement which will be co-branded by DIUS and the Technology Strategy Board.

Departmental Reviews

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what reviews are being undertaken by external experts on behalf of his Department; and what the expected completion date of each is.

David Lammy: holding answer 21 July 2008
	The Government Chemist function will be audited by two external experts. The audit takes place every three years. This is part of the Government Chemist agreement between LGC Ltd and the Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. The Government Chemist is the referee analyst under various Acts of Parliament and is appointed by DIUS Ministers. The forthcoming audit will begin in a few weeks and will probably report by the end of the year.
	DWP commissioned Capgemini to undertake a review of the governance arrangements of the joint DWP-DIUS Integrating Employment and Skills programme during July. The formal three weeks review period is over, but they will be completing a small piece of work helping the departments to implement their findings in August.
	Lifelong Learning UK, on behalf of DIUS, are in the process of selecting a tender to undertake a review of the impact and effectiveness (including vfm) of FE incentive schemes to recruit and retain FE teachers in the workforce. We expect a report to be produced by end October 2008 that will inform future policy in these areas.
	A small scale qualitative survey of 25 FE providers and stakeholder groups is being carried out to gain insight into how they are responding to the FE reforms on simplifying processes and reducing burdens, such as developing proportionate audit and inspection. We expect the final report in early August.

Education: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many recommendations in the Commissioner for Rural Communities report England's rural area: steps to release their economic potential within his Department's areas of responsibility his Department intends to implement; and if he will provide a timetable for implementation.

Bill Rammell: The Department is currently reflecting upon the Rural Advocate's Report on Strengthening England's Rural Economies. DEFRA is the lead Department across Government and I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1204-05W.

English Language: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many accredited schools there are in Bournemouth for teaching English as a second language.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Further Education: Standards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will provide an updated list of organisations with a monitoring, inspection or improvement role in further education colleges on the same basis as Box 4 on page 27 of the 2005 Department for Education and Skills publication Realising the Potential: A review of the future role of further education colleges.

Bill Rammell: Since 1997 the Government have implemented major change to simplify the further education landscape and streamline national agencies. This includes reducing numbers of staff managing the further education and skills system from 10,000 in the TEC era to 4,700 as the Learning and Skills Council was established and further to 3,600 currently. We responded quickly to recommendations in Realising the Potential: A review of the future role of further education colleges by merging two major inspectorates, Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate, thereby simplifying inspection processes. More recently, the merger of the Quality Improvement Agency and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership, to form the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, will streamline processes further and drive quality improvement in the FE service through more direct influence from sector-leaders and practitioners. An updated list of organisations with a monitoring, inspection or improvement role in further education colleges is set out in the following list on the same basis as originally in the review report. This shows a reduction in the number of organisations with a monitoring, inspection or improvement role.
	List of organisations with a monitoring/inspection/improvement role in FE colleges
	 Inspectorates
	Ofsted
	The Quality Assurance Agency (for HE in FE)
	 Funding/Monitoring/planning influence
	The Learning and Skills Council
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England
	Job Centre Plus
	Local Authorities
	Regional Development Agencies
	Sector Skills Councils/Commission for Employment and Skills
	 Improvement/Standards Setting
	Local Learning and Skills Councils
	The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (being formed from merging the Quality Improvement Agency and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership)
	Lifelong Learning UK
	Institute for Learning
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority /Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator
	Awarding Bodies

GCE A-Level

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people  (a) at a maintained school,  (b) at a sixth form college,  (c) at a further education college,  (d) at an independent school,  (e) at another educational institution and  (f) studying on their own gained an A level at grades A to E in (i) accounting, (ii) art and design, (iii) business studies, (iv) communication studies, (v) dance, (vi) design and technology, (vii) drama/theatre studies, (viii) film studies, (ix) health and social care, (x) home economics, (xi) information and communication technology, (xii) leisure studies, (xiii) media studies, (xiv) music technology, (xv) performance studies, (xvi) performing arts, (xvii) photography, (xviii) physical education, (xix) sports studies and (xx) travel and tourism in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The information for parts  (a) to  (e) has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The Department does not hold information required to answer part  (f).

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has 36 permanent members of staff who work in the central communication directorate. Other civil servants may have communication as a core part of their role as good communication is integral to helping implement government policy.
	The Department is responsible for two agencies, National Weights and Measures Laboratory and the UK Intellectual Property Office.
	The UK Intellectual Property Office has four members of staff in the communication team who are classified as Government communicators.
	National Weights and Measures Laboratory has approximately 2.5 members of staff in the communications team who are classified as Government communicators.
	All civil servants who work in a communication role can access the GCN and the resources that it provides.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people have been routed to higher education institutions by Train to Gain skills brokers.

Bill Rammell: Since it was rolled out nationally from April 2006, Train to Gain has grown quickly. It has now engaged 97,000 employers, supported 488,480 employees to begin learning programmes, and delivered 203,370 full level 2 and 26,720 Skills for Life achievements. Recent evaluations of the service show that both employer and employee satisfaction with their experience of Train to Gain is high.
	Train to Gain helps employers identify and address their skills needs at all levelsincluding higher level skills, working with the HE sector.
	To date, 492 employers have been referred to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Train to Gain skills brokerage organisations; information on the number of learners engaged as a result of those referrals is not held centrally.
	Three High Level Skills Pathfinders funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in North West, North East and South West are helping to identify barriers to the HE sector engaging with employers and build Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) capacity to extend their work with employers, working alongside and through Train to Gain. The Pathfinders are now starting to fund truly demand-led proposals from HEIs and Further Education Colleges to develop HE-level provision attuned to workforce development needs.
	This week we launched 'The Training Gateway', a national clearing house service that will help Train to Gain skills brokers to connect employers with the Higher Education Institutions that can best deliver the higher level skills training that will meet their business need.

Higher Education: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when a decision will be taken on the funding rules for students studying for equivalent or lower qualifications in the years after 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 : Our ELQ policy is a balanced one. We are reinvesting resources to benefit those who have not already obtained a higher education qualification. Yet over two thirds of the current level of HEFCE grant for ELQ students will continue to be invested in supporting them in 2010-11. All we have asked HEFCE to do is to redistribute about 100 million a year by 2010-11 in order to fund over 20,000 extra new entrants to higher education. We have made no decisions to redirect further funding beyond 2010-11.
	Future decisions will be taken as part of the next Spending Review, whose timetable has not yet been announced.

Higher Education: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people in each London borough  (a) enrolled on and  (b) did not complete a higher education course in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Student retention rates at higher education institutions in this country compare very well internationally. The UK ranks fifth in the OECD for first degree completion rates, out of 23 countries who report data in this area. A university education is now open to more students than ever before and the Government are totally committed to providing opportunities for all people to achieve their potential and to maximise their talent.
	While there has been a slight increase in non-completion for the 2005/06 academic year, the proportion is lower than for most years for which data are available and is much lower than in the late 1990s.
	This has been achieved and maintained during a period when the student population has increased and its diversity widened.
	 (a) The latest available information on entrants to higher education courses is shown in Table 1. Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: Full-time and part-time entrants( 1)  to UK higher education institutions( 2)  by London local authority( 3) academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Academic years 
			  Local authority  1997/98  1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 City of London 85 195 220 205 190 235 215 250 180 200 
			 Camden 2,870 3,285 3,420 3,605 3,560 3,880 3,995 4,070 3,960 3,810 
			 Greenwich 2,120 2,465 2,570 2,775 3,125 3,315 3,515 3,620 3,590 3,565 
			 Hackney 2,490 3,005 3,265 3,330 3,615 3,860 3,980 4,265 4,200 4,200 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,810 2,030 2,260 2,345 2,365 2,550 2,725 2,705 2,740 2,560 
			 Islington 2,280 2,975 3,035 3,300 3,230 3,525 3,695 3,780 3,630 3,625 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,775 2,080 2,155 2,115 2,220 2,330 2,250 2,390 2,300 2,175 
			 Lambeth 3,510 4,185 4,295 4,415 4,745 5,010 5,005 5,240 5,185 5,080 
			 Lewisham 3,080 3,760 3,925 4,005 4,395 4,625 4,725 4,915 4,810 4,825 
			 Southwark 3,430 4,140 4,140 4,300 4,605 4,820 5,320 5,390 5,075 4,955 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,645 2,115 2,345 2,560 2,795 3,210 3,270 3,420 3,420 3,425 
			 Wandsworth 3,130 3,880 3,905 3,830 3,940 4,450 4,725 4,685 4,505 4,535 
			 Westminster 2,305 2,820 2,940 2,960 3,115 3,455 3,400 3,595 3,365 3,340 
			 Barking and Dagenham 765 1,075 1,005 1,040 1,250 1,605 1,630 1,815 1,875 1,905 
			 Barnet 4,380 5,080 5,320 5,430 5,510 6,110 5,830 6,175 6,195 5,945 
			 Bexley 1,510 1,805 1,755 2,015 2,135 2,185 2,410 2,485 2,610 2,575 
			 Brent 3,660 4,430 4,450 4,715 4,830 4,945 4,890 5,005 4,815 4,725 
			 Bromley 2,690 3,120 3,340 3,435 3,505 3,850 4,000 4,150 4,000 3,910 
			 Croydon 2,870 3,585 3,755 4,115 4,115 4,415 4,580 4,675 4,800 4,765 
			 Ealing 3,715 4,670 4,880 5,030 5,265 5,420 5,280 5,500 5,405 5,355 
			 Enfield 3,125 3,600 3,790 3,920 4,100 4,340 4,420 4,660 4,695 4,480 
			 Haringey 3,265 4,000 3,970 4,025 4,060 4,385 4,340 4,515 4,430 4,320 
			 Harrow 2,820 3,330 3,575 3,590 3,740 3,995 3,950 4,090 3,985 3,895 
			 Havering 1,335 1,730 1,630 1,640 1,730 1,930 2,035 2,420 2,240 2,120 
			 Hillingdon 1,925 2,405 2,650 2,790 2,840 3,095 3,125 3,175 3,265 3,240 
			 Hounslow 2,070 2,670 2,845 3,015 2,940 3,060 3,150 3,245 3,255 3,210 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,215 1,895 1,950 2,010 2,165 2,405 2,460 2,525 2,585 2,460 
			 Merton 1,765 2,225 2,355 2,470 2,565 2,760 2,825 2,870 2,840 2,770 
			 Newham 2,660 3,210 3,415 3,525 3,960 4,400 4,355 4,410 4,465 4,540 
			 Redbridge 2,685 3,340 3,270 3,375 3,865 4,160 4,105 4,120 4,255 4,255 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,830 2,405 2,485 2,385 2,540 2,645 2,760 3,050 2,965 2,895 
			 Sutton 1,255 1,730 1,665 1,835 1,935 2,050 2,140 2,300 2,330 2,200 
			 Waltham Forest 2,420 3,110 3,030 3,085 3,515 3,830 3,700 4,030 3,715 3,870 
			 (1) Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December to maintain a consistent time series across all years and are rounded to the nearest five. Figures include the Open University but exclude those on writing up, sabbatical or dormant mode of study. (2) Covers entrants to postgraduate and undergraduate HE level courses in UK higher education institutions. (3) London boroughs have been taken to be local authority areas. Students are allocated to local authority area by postcode; figures exclude students with missing or invalid postcodes.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	 (b) The standard measure of non-completion is the proportion of UK-domiciled full-time first degree starters of all ages who are projected to neither obtain an award nor transfer to another institution. The available information for higher education institutions in the UK and England are shown in Table 2. This figure is not disaggregated below national level.
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of full-time first degree starters who were projected to neither gain an award nor transfer to another institution  UK and English Higher education institutionsacademic years 1997/98 to 2005/06 
			  Percentage 
			   UK  England 
			 1997/98 15.7 15.8 
			 1998/99 15.8 15.9 
			 1999/2000 15.8 15.8 
			 2000/01 15.0 15.0 
			 2001/02 14.1 13.8 
			 2002/03 14.4 13.9 
			 2003/04 14.9 14.4 
			 2004/05 14.2 13.8 
			 2005/06 14.1 13.9 
			  Note: The projected outcomes for a cohort are based on the assumption that their patterns of progression will follow those of students currently in the system. A student is assumed to have left with no award if they have been inactive for two years.  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Student Wastage

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1000-01W, on student wastage, if he will place in the Library a copy of Table 3, broken down by course subject.

Bill Rammell: Non-continuation rates broken down by both institution and degree subject are not available. Non-continuation rates broken down by subject are only available for the UK. The non-continuation rate is the proportion of entrants to full-time first degree courses who are no longer in higher education after one year of study. The rates for young entrants are shown in Table 1, and rates for mature entrants in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of young entrants to full-time first degree courses who are no longer in higher education after one year of study by degree subject. UK Higher Education Institutionsacademic years 1999/2000 to 2005/06 
			  Percentage 
			  Degree subject  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 2.0 2.0 2.4 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.6 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 6.3 6.0 5.9 6.4 7.7 6.8 6.5 
			 Biological sciences(1) (8) (8) (8) (8) 7.3 6.8 6.7 
			 Physical sciences(1) (8)6.9 (8)6.0 (8)6.1 (8)7.1 6.1 6.0 7.8 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 6.8 7.0 11.4 7.5 8.3 8.0 5.7 
			 Mathematical sciences(2) (9) (9) (9) (9) 5.5 5.3 4.8 
			 Computer sciences(2) (9)9.8 (9)8.0 (9)8.4 (9)9.4 10.3 10.3 10.5 
			 Engineering and technology 10.1 9.0 8.9 10.0 10.1 9.1 8.5 
			 Architecture, building, planning 9.6 8.0 10.2 11.1 10.0 8.3 7.6 
			 Social studies(3) (10) (10) (10) (10) 7.2 6.9 7.0 
			 Law(3) (10)6.9 (10)6.0 (10)6.4 (10)7.0 6.2 5.5 5.9 
			 Librarianship, information sciences(4) (11) (11) (11) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Business and administrative studies(4,5) (11)6.9 (11)8.0 (11)8.2 (12) 8.8 8.2 8.4 
			 Mass communications and documentation(5) n/a n/a n/a (12)8.8 8.5 8.6 8.5 
			 Humanities(6) (13) (13) (13) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Languages(6,7) (13)5.9 (13)5.0 (13)5.7 (14) 6.3 5.7 5.8 
			 Historical and philosophical studies(7) n/a n/a n/a (14)6.3 5.9 5.0 5.1 
			 Creative arts and design 8.7 8.0 8.3 8.2 8.4 8.1 8.0 
			 Education 8.6 8.0 8.1 8.0 7.5 7.6 7.3 
			 Combined subjects 8.8 8.0 8.2 14.3 13.5 14.3 13.8 
			 All subjects 7.8 7.0 7.3 7.8 7.7 7.2 7.1 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) One figure was provided for Biological and Physical Sciences until 2003/04. (2) One figure was provided for Mathematical and Computer Sciences until 2003/04. (3) One figure was provided for Social Studies and Law until 2003/04. (4) One figure was provided for Librarianship, information sciences and Business and administrative studies until 2002/03. (5) One figure was provided for Business and administrative studies and Mass communications and documentation in 2002/03. (6) One figure was provided for Languages and Humanities until 2002/03. (7) One figure was provided for Languages and Historical and Philosophical Studies in 2002/03.  Notes: 1. Figures for 2000/01 are only available to the nearest integer. 2. There is a break in the time series between academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 because the subjects' JACS coding was changed in 2002/03.  Source: Performance indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of mature entrants to full-time first degree courses who are no longer in higher education after one year of study by degree subject. UK Higher Education Institutionsacademic years 1999/2000 to 2005/06 
			  Percentage 
			  Degree subject  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 2.0 3.0 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.8 4.0 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 12.0 10.0 11.2 11.8 12.5 11.4 11.3 
			 Biological sciences(1) (8) (8) (8) (8) 17.5 16.2 16.2 
			 Physical sciences(1) (8)17.0 (8)15.0 (8)18.0 (8)17.7 12.3 11.0 15.2 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 16.0 13.0 18.0 14.5 16.8 17.0 16.0 
			 Mathematical sciences(2) (9) (9) (9) (9) 18.7 16.4 18.2 
			 Computer sciences(2) (9)20.0 (9)18.0 (9)18.4 (9)20.3 19.0 18.9 19.3 
			 Engineering and technology 20.0 19.0 16.9 19.7 21.3 18.9 19.0 
			 Architecture, building, planning 17.0 17.0 16.9 15.9 17.2 14.2 14.4 
			 Social studies(3) (10) (10) (10) (10) 14.3 13.7 13.1 
			 Law(3) (10)15.0 (10)15.0 (10)14.8 (10)15.4 17.7 16.7 18.3 
			 Librarianship, information sciences(4) (11) (11) (11) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Business and administrative studies(4,5) (11)17.0 (11)16.0 (11)16.8 (12) 19.2 17.4 17.0 
			 Mass communications and documentation(5) n/a n/a n/a (12)18.0 16.7 17.8 16.5 
			 Humanities(6) (13) (13) (13) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Languages(6,7) (13)16.0 (13)14.0 (13)14.8 (14) 15.7 15.3 14.8 
			 Historical and philosophical studies(7) n/a n/a n/a (14)15.6 15.8 14.4 14.4 
			 Creative arts and design 13.0 12.0 13.0 12.1 14.4 12.8 13.3 
			 Education 12.0 11.0 10.2 10.1 11.8 11.0 10.1 
			 Combined subjects 19.0 18.0 18.2 23.2 19.9 23.9 21.2 
			 All subjects 16.0 14.0 14.9 15.4 15.6 14.4 14.3 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) One figure was provided for Biological and Physical Sciences until 2003/04. (2) One figure was provided for Mathematical and Computer Sciences until 2003/04. (3) One figure was provided for Social Studies and Law until 2003/04. (4) One figure was provided for Librarianship, information sciences and Business and administrative studies until 2002/03. (5) One figure was provided for Business and administrative studies and Mass communications and documentation in 2002/03. (6) One figure was provided for Languages and Humanities until 2002/03. (7) One figure was provided for Languages and Historical and Philosophical Studies in 2002/03.  Notes: 1. Figures for 1999/2000 and 2000/01 are only available to the nearest integer. 2. There is a break in the time series between academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 because the subjects' JACS coding was 2002/03.  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	Subject rankings for non-continuation rates change over the years. However, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science consistently have the lowest non-continuation rates over the time series.
	Student retention rates in this country compare very well internationally. The UK rank 5(th) in the OECD for first degree completion rates, out of 23 countries who report data in this area. A university education is now open to more students than ever before and the Government are totally committed to providing opportunities for all people to achieve their potential and to maximise their talent.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1217-8W, on the Olympic games, what estimate he has made of the cost of sending Ministers and officials from his Department to the Beijing Olympic Games.

David Lammy: There are no plans for any of the Ministers or officials from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills to attend the Beijing Olympic games in an official capacity. Therefore, there will be no cost to the Department.

Students: Fees and Charges

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the Government's policy is on variable university tuition fees.

Bill Rammell: The Government's policy is that it is right that students should bear a fair share of the costs of higher education. The variable fees regime that we introduced in 2006 will provide an additional 1.6 billion for higher education by 2010-11. At the same time we have ensured that there is strong support to meet students' personal financial needs. This has enabled us to make further progress in widening access to higher education, with the proportion of accepted applicants from England who are from the bottom four socio-economic groups has increased from 31.7 per cent. in 2006 to 32.1 per cent. in 2007.
	The maximum fee that can be charged each year is capped at 3,000 (at 2006 prices) and no increase can be made to this until Parliament has considered an independent review of the first three years of the new system.

Students: Finance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students resident in the London Borough of Bexley received an  (a) education maintenance allowance and  (b) special support grant in 2007-08.

Bill Rammell: The part of the question on education maintenance allowance (EMA) is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who have operational responsibility for the EMA for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold information about payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	30 students from the London borough of Bexley received a special support grant (SSG) in academic year 2006/07. Complete figures are not yet available for academic year 2007/08.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom to  David Evennett, dated 25 July 2008:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked; How many students resident in the London Borough of Bexley received an (a) education maintenance allowance and (b) special support grant in 2007-08. As responsibility for the operation of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme lies with the Learning and Skills Council, your question has been forwarded for my attention.
	Part (b) of your question was answered in Bill Rammell's written reply of Monday 30 June 2008.
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	In the first year of national roll out EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas (young people who are 19 are entitled to receive EMA in certain circumstances). In 2005/06 EMA roll out continued and EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. In 2006/07 EMA was available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally.
	EMA take-up for Bexley Local Authority area in the academic year 2007/08, up to 30 June 08, is 2,039.
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm.

Thames Gateway: Finance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding was distributed by the Thames Gateway initiative to the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last five years; and to what uses the sums distributed to Bexley have been put.

David Lammy: The Department has no record of funds distributed by the Thames Gateway initiative to the London borough of Bexley.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Immigration: Vetting

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances criminal records checks are carried out on  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals entering Northern Ireland.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question, Immigration: Criminal Records of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1445W.
	In relation to the circumstances in which criminal records checks are carried out, as my earlier answer stated, our policy is that the documents of all foreign nationals at ports of entry are checked against the Home Office Warnings Index.

Vetting

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many checks have been carried out on Northern Ireland residents by the Criminal Records Bureau in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions information provided by the Criminal Records Bureau in respect of Northern Ireland residents has proved to be erroneous in each of the last five years; by what means the errors were discovered in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: I have been asked to reply.
	The information sought by the hon. Member is not available. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is unable to provide information on Disclosure applications based on geographical areas.
	The CRB would need to perform a manual trawl, at disproportionate cost, of each application to ascertain whether the postcode falls within Northern Ireland, in order to identify how many checks have been carried out on Northern Ireland residents by the CRB and on how many occasions the information provided by the CRB has proved to be in error in each of the last five years.

JUSTICE

Young Offenders: Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice of the children aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted for breaching an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) in the period January 2004 to December 2007, how many  (a) received a custodial sentence solely for the breach of the ASBO, where no other matters were dealt with by the court at the same time,  (b) received a custodial sentence for breach of an ASBO, where other matters were dealt with at the same time but where these matters did not warrant a custodial sentence and  (c) received a custodial sentence for breach of an ASBO, where other matters were dealt with at the same time and where the other matters did warrant a custodial sentence.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) is not routinely collected in the format requested. However, in 2005, a one-off analysis was undertaken when numbers of ASBOs were low.
	A table showing figures for the period 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 is as follows.
	The table covers all persons issued ASBO's, as reported to the Home Office, who breached their ASBO by the end of 2003. Age is determined by age at the date of appearance in court, on which the severest penalty for breach of an ASBO was received.
	
		
			  Number of persons receiving a custodial sentence for breaching an ASBO by age group and category 
			  Age group  Number of persons breaching their ASBOs by the end of 2003  Number of persons receiving a custodial sentence for breach of an ASBO  Category A: where a person received a custodial sentence for at least one other offence at the same court appearance (excludes persons in group B)  Category B: where a person received a consecutive sentence of custody for breach of an ASBO when being dealt with for other offences at the same court appearance (excludes persons in group A)  Category AB: persons both in category A and B  Category C: where the person was dealt with for a breach of an ASBO alone 
			 10-17 417 179 50 21 78 30 
			 18+ 376 258 32 31 91 104 
			 All ages 793 437 82 52 169 134 
			
			  Percentage distribution of penalties   
			 10-17  43 28 12 44 17 
			 18+  69 12 12 35 40 
			 All ages  55 19 12 39 31

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effects of the changes to alcohol duty announced in the 2008 budget on  (a) binge drinking,  (b) general levels of alcohol consumption and  (c) underage drinking.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Secretary has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues about all aspects of policy. However, taxation is a matter for the Treasury.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) individuals and  (b) establishments have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age people in Hampshire in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were prosecuted for selling alcohol to children in Hampshire in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of people and the number of others proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons in Hampshire police force area, for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) can also be applied for the offence; the number of PNDs issued in Hampshire police force area was two in 2004, 67 in 2005, and 109 in 2006.
	
		
			  N umber of persons and the number of others proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons in Hampshire police force area, 2002 to 2006( 1,2,3,4,5) 
			   Proceeded against 
			   Persons  Other 
			 2002 4  
			 2003   
			 2004 9  
			 2005 11  
			 2006 2  
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(1). Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(1) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964 Sec 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec 17. Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 Sec 147(1)  (5) (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their Inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005. (5) Figures for Other includes: Public bodies, companies, organisations   Source:  Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) businesses and  (b) individuals were prosecuted for supplying alcohol to those under the age of 18 years in (i) England, (ii) Staffordshire and (iii) Tamworth constituency in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of persons and the number of other defendants namely businesses, companies, and organisations proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons, in Staffordshire Police Force Area, and England, 2004 to 2006 can be viewed in the attached table.
	From the court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice, it is not possible to identify those defendants prosecuted in the Tamworth constituency, as the data are not collected at this level of detail.
	A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) can also be applied for the offence; the number of PNDs issued in Staffordshire Police Force Area was 0 in 2004, 19 in 2005, and 75 in 2006. The number issued in England for the same offence was 112 in 2004, 1,839 in 2005 and 2,936 in 2006.
	
		
			 Number of persons and the number of other defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons in Staffordshire Police Force Area, and England, 2004 to 2006(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 
			   Staffordshire Police Force Area  England 
			   Proceeded against  Proceeded against 
			   Persons  Other  Persons  Other 
			 2004 5  757 21 
			 2005 20  994 3 
			 2006 23  1,038 46 
			 1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 2 Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, Intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(1). Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(l) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964 Sec 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec 17. Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 Sec 147(1) and (5) 3 Every effort Is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, It is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005. 5 Figures for Other includes: Public bodies, companies, organisations  Source:  Court proceedings data held by RDS - Office for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Alternatives to Prison: Ashford

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the Alternative to Detentions project at the Millbank Centre in Ashford; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency is currently making an assessment of the project. I expect to make decisions about its future as soon as possible.

Animal Experiments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 442-43W, on animal experiments, whether licences that authorise procedures of such severity that death would ensue would require an animal to be euthanased immediately; whether the licences require 24-hour care so that euthanasia can be carried out immediately; whether severity limits are allocated to such licences; whether such licences fall within the band classified as substantial; for what purposes such licences are given; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office does not authorise death as an experimental endpoint in project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Where an earlier endpoint has been set to ensure that animals are killed before death would occur, euthanasia would be applied as soon as the animal exhibits predetermined signs, such as abnormal behaviour, appearance, body weight changes, body temperature changes, abnormal clinical findings or observations or laboratory investigations. Monitoring arrangements would also be required to ensure that such signs were identified promptly. Where appropriate, these may include 24-hour care.
	Severity limits for such procedures may be either moderate or substantial, depending on the point at which the endpoint is to be applied, and would be set in accordance with the guidance provided in paragraph 5.42 of the published Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321).
	Common examples of project licences of this nature include those authorising regulatory toxicology and safety evaluation studies, some vaccine efficacy tests, certain models of disease and major surgery.

Animal Experiments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 2006, for what specific purposes macaque monkeys were used.

Meg Hillier: Table 1 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals: Great Britain 2006 identifies the primary purpose of the procedures in which macaques were used. Further information regarding target body systems, non-toxicological field of research, use for production of biological materials, toxicological purpose and type of toxicological test is provided, respectively, in tables 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 of the publication.

Antisocial Behaviour

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to address antisocial behaviour in local communities; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Since April 2008, there has been a neighbourhood policing team in every area. These teams are now increasing their focus on working with local communities to identify and tackle local problems together, while continuing to provide high visibility policing, reducing antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.
	We have provided practitioners with a wide range of tools and powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, issued guidance on their use through a practitioner website and set up a free telephone advice line to provide specific support on individual problems. It is for local agencies to decide on the most appropriate interventions to tackle antisocial behaviour based on their knowledge of what works best locally.

Antisocial Behaviour

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the use of ultra-sonic youth deterrent devices.

Vernon Coaker: There are no regulations that govern the use of ultra-sonic deterrent devices. However, the prolonged exposure to the noise emitted by a device may be a statutory nuisance. If an environmental health officer took the view that it affected the occupants of a property, action could be taken against the owner of the noise emitter. Inappropriate use of the device may also be classed as a harassment offence under the Public Order Act 1986 or the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Antisocial Behaviour

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities in England have applied to make  (a) an Alcohol Disorder Zone,  (b) a section 30 dispersal order and  (c) a designated public place order in each year since each was introduced.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 July 2008
	There are currently no Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs) that we are aware of. ADZs were only commenced on 5 June 2008 and require a number of steps to be taken before a full ADZ is implemented.
	Between January 2004 and 31 March 2006, the police have used the power in section 30 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 to disperse unruly groups in over 1,000 designated areas. Figures are not available broken down by year. Figures for 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 are due to be published in the next few months.
	The Home Office has been informed that 613 Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO)s have been implemented throughout England and Wales. This figure is broken down by year as follows; three in 2001, 68 in 2002, 78 in 2003, 98 in 2004,103 in 2005, 136 in 2006, 97 in 2007 and 30 in 2008.
	A full list of the Councils which have implemented the orders can be accessed at the following internet link which includes commencement date.
	http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/alcoholorders/alcoholorders09.htm

Antisocial Behaviour: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles have been confiscated as a result of anti-social behaviour in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London in each year since 2000.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of vehicles confiscated as a result of antisocial behaviour is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Antisocial Behaviour: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles have been confiscated as a result of anti-social behaviour in Tamworth constituency since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of vehicles confiscated as a result of antisocial behaviour is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the Legacy Casework Programme questionnaires completed and returned, how many recipients  (a) were granted leave to remain  (b) were not granted leave to remain and  (c) are awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The answer to parts  (a),  (b) and  (c) cannot be determined as these would entail disproportionate cost. Applicants in the backlog of asylum claims are only sent a questionnaire if the UK Border Agency determines it needs more up-to-date information on the case, for example, where an applicant has not been in touch with the Agency for some period.
	Lin Homer wrote to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 23 July 2008 to update them on the progress of the work of the Case Resolution Directorate in line with the commitment she gave in her letter dated 17 December 2007 to provide updates every six months.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1279W, on asylum, how many asylum claimants who have received leave to remain as a result of grant of  (a) asylum,  (b) humanitarian protection and  (c) discretionary leave there were of each nationality in the categories (i) Europe other (ii) Americas other, (iii) Africa other, (iv) Middle East other and (v) Asia other.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 March 2008
	The requested information is contained in the tables provided.
	Information on asylum decisions is published quarterly and annually. Copies of asylum statistics publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Grants of leave to remain( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3)  made at initial decision on asylum applications, excluding dependants by nationality, previously published under other category, April to December 2003 
			  Nationality  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection  Not recognised as a refugee but granted discretionary leave 
			 Armenia 5  5 
			 Azerbaijan 5 * * 
			 Belarus *  * 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina *  * 
			 Bulgaria *   
			 Croatia   * 
			 Czech Republic *   
			 Estonia   * 
			 Georgia 5  5 
			 Kyrgyzstan *  * 
			 Latvia   * 
			 Lithuania   * 
			 Poland 5  5 
			 Turkmenistan *   
			 Uzbekistan *  * 
			 Published Europe 100 * 400 
			 Europe Total 125 5 425 
			 
			 Bolivia   5 
			 Brazil *   
			 Cuba *  * 
			 Dominican Republic   * 
			 Guyana   * 
			 Panama   * 
			 Peru   * 
			 Published Americas 10  10 
			 Americas Total 15  20 
			 
			 Burkina Faso  *  
			 Chad 5  * 
			 Equatorial Guinea *   
			 Guinea 5 * 30 
			 Malawi   * 
			 Mali   * 
			 Niger   * 
			 South Africa   5 
			 Togo 5  5 
			 Western Sahara   * 
			 Zambia *  * 
			 Published Africa 1,905 115 1,405 
			 Africa Total 1.925 120 1,450 
			 
			 Egypt *  * 
			 Kuwait 5 *  
			 Lebanon 5  15 
			 Morocco *  * 
			 Palestine 5 * 20 
			 Tunisia 5   
			 Yemen 5  5 
			 Published Middle East 85 10 120 
			 Middle East Total 115 10 160 
			 
			 Bhutan 5  * 
			 Indonesia *   
			 Korea (South)
			 Mongolia   5 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 20 * 5 
			 Nepal   * 
			 Published Asia 130 5 1,015 
			 Asia Total 160 5 1,025 
			 Nationality not known 10  10 
			 Total 2,345 140 3,095 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, ( = 0, * = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) For completeness, the numbers already published for each region are also provided. 
		
	
	
		
			  Grants of leave to remain( 1,2,3)  made at initial decision on asylum applications, excluding dependants by nationality, as previously published under other category, 2004 
			  Nationality  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection  Not recognised as a refugee but granted discretionary leave 
			 Armenia *   
			 Azerbaijan 10  * 
			 Belarus *  * 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina   * 
			 Bulgaria *  * 
			 Croatia *  * 
			 Cyprus *   
			 Georgia 5 * 5 
			 Kazakhstan *  * 
			 Kyrgyzstan *   
			 Lithuania   * 
			 Turkmenistan 5   
			 Uzbekistan  *  
			 Published Europe 135 10 500 
			 Europe Total 165 10 510 
			 
			 Bolivia *   
			 Dominican Republic   * 
			 El Salvador *   
			 Guyana *   
			 Trinidad and Tobago   * 
			 Venezuela   * 
			 Published Americas 10 * 15 
			 Americas Total 10 * 15 
			 
			 Botswana   * 
			 Central African Republic *   
			 Chad *  5 
			 Guinea 5 * 50 
			 Guinea-Bissau   * 
			 Malawi * * 5 
			 Mali   * 
			 Mauritania 5  * 
			 Mauritius *   
			 Senegal   * 
			 South Africa   * 
			 Togo 5  5 
			 Zambia *   
			 Published Africa 1,080 105 1,565 
			 Africa Total 1,100 105 1,635 
			 
			 Egypt  * 5 
			 Israel *   
			 Jordan  *  
			 Kuwait   * 
			 Lebanon *  5 
			 Morocco *  * 
			 Oman  *  
			 Palestine 10  20 
			 Tunisia *  * 
			 Yemen 5 * 20 
			 Published Middle East 105 15 420 
			 Middle East Total 130 15 475 
			 
			 Bhutan 5   
			 Indonesia *   
			 North Korea 5 5 * 
			 Malaysia *   
			 Maldives *   
			 Mongolia 5  5 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 15  * 
			 Nepal 5  5 
			 Philippines * - - 
			 Thailand *   
			 Published Asia 120 20 1,190 
			 Asia Total 160 25 1,200 
			 Nationality not known *  * 
			 Total 1,565 160 3,335 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, ( = 0, * = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) For completeness, the numbers already published for each region are also provided. 
		
	
	
		
			  Grants of leave to remain( 1,2,3 ) made at initial decision on asylum applications, excluding dependants by nationality, as previously published under other category, 2005 
			  Nationality  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection  Not recognised as a refugee but granted discretionary leave 
			 Armenia *  * 
			 Azerbaijan 5  * 
			 Belarus 5   
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 5  * 
			 Bulgaria   5 
			 Croatia 5  * 
			 Georgia *  * 
			 northern Cyprus   * 
			 Turkmenistan 5   
			 Uzbekistan 5   
			 Published Europe 65 * 205 
			 Europe Total 90 * 215 
			 
			 Bolivia   5 
			 Cuba *   
			 Venezuela   * 
			 Published Americas 10  10 
			 Americas Total 10  15 
			 Burkina Faso   * 
			 Chad 5 * 5 
			 Djibouti *   
			 Guinea 5  55 
			 Malawi  * * 
			 Mali   * 
			 Mauritania   * 
			 Mauritius  *  
			 Mozambique   * 
			 Togo * * 5 
			 Western Sahara *   
			 Published Africa 1,535 45 840 
			 Africa Total 1,545 50 905 
			 
			 Kuwait 15  * 
			 Lebanon 5 * 5 
			 Morocco   10 
			 Palestine 5  25 
			 Qatar *   
			 Tunisia 5   
			 Yemen *  10 
			 Published Middle East 100 35 540 
			 Middle East Total 125 35 585 
			 
			 Bhutan *  * 
			 North Korea 5 10 * 
			 Maldives 5  * 
			 Mongolia *  * 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 25 *  
			 Nepal *  * 
			 Thailand  *  
			 Published Asia 100 25 945 
			 Asia Total 135 35 950 
			 Nationality not known 30  * 
			 Total 1,940 120 2,675 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, ( = 0, * = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) For completeness, the numbers already published for each region are also provided. 
		
	
	
		
			  Grants of leave to remain,( 1,2,3)  made at initial decision on asylum applications, excluding dependants by nationality, as previously published under other category, 2006( 4) 
			  Nationality  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection  Not recognised as a refugee but granted discretionary leave 
			 Azerbaijan *   
			 Belarus 10  * 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina *  * 
			 Bulgaria   * 
			 Georgia *   
			 Kyrgyzstan *   
			 Turkmenistan 5   
			 Uzbekistan 5   
			 Published Europe 30 5 110 
			 Europe Total 50 5 110 
			 
			 Bolivia   5 
			 Cuba *   
			 Guyana   * 
			 Published Americas 5 5 5 
			 Americas Total 10 5 10 
			 
			 Benin   * 
			 Central African Republic *   
			 Chad   * 
			 Guinea * * 35 
			 Guinea-Bissau   * 
			 Malawi   * 
			 Mauritius   * 
			 Senegal   * 
			 Seychelles *   
			 South Africa   * 
			 Swaziland  *  
			 Togo 5  * 
			 Published Africa 1,720 15 605 
			 Africa Total 1,730 15 650 
			 
			 Bahrain *   
			 Egypt *  * 
			 Israel   * 
			 Kuwait 50  5 
			 Lebanon * * 5 
			 Palestine * * 5 
			 Tunisia *   
			 United Arab Emirates * *  
			 Yemen *  5 
			 Published Middle East 135 10 340 
			 Middle East Total 195 15 360 
			 
			 Bhutan 5   
			 North Korea 15 5  
			 Mongolia   5 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 25 5  
			 Published Asia 110 5 1,110 
			 Asia Total 155 20 1,115 
			 Nationality not known 30   
			 Total 2,170 55 2,245 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, ( = 0, * = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) For completeness, the numbers already published for each region are also provided. 
		
	
	
		
			  Grants of leave to remain( 1,2,3)  made at initial decision on asylum applications, excluding dependants by nationality, as previously published under other category, 2007( 4) 
			  Nationality  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection  Not recognised as a refugee but granted discretionary leave 
			 Armenia   * 
			 Azerbaijan 5  5 
			 Belarus 10   
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina * *  
			 Bulgaria   * 
			 Croatia *   
			 Georgia   * 
			 Kyrgyzstan * *  
			 Tajikistan   * 
			 Turkmenistan 5 *  
			 Uzbekistan *   
			 Fed Rep Yugoslavia *  * 
			 Published Europe 35 5 85 
			 Europe Total 60 5 95 
			 
			 Brazil   * 
			 Cuba   * 
			 Published Americas 5 * 10 
			 Americas Total 5 * 10 
			 
			 Benin   * 
			 Chad 5  * 
			 Guinea 10 5 30 
			 Guinea-Bissau  * * 
			 Malawi   5 
			 Mauritania  *  
			 Niger *   
			 Senegal * *  
			 South Africa   * 
			 Togo 5   
			 Zambia *  * 
			 Published Africa 2,415 20 430 
			 Africa Total 2,440 30 470 
			 
			 Bahrain *   
			 Egypt 5  * 
			 Jordan *   
			 Kuwait 80  5 
			 Lebanon * * * 
			 Morocco   * 
			 Oman
			 Palestine 15 * 15 
			 Tunisia *   
			 Yemen 5 * 5 
			 Published Middle East 390 35 325 
			 Middle East Total 495 40 350 
			 
			 Bhutan 5  * 
			 Fiji *   
			 North Korea 130 15 5 
			 South Korea *   
			 Malaysia *   
			 Mongolia   * 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 95 20 * 
			 Nepal *   
			 Published Asia 285 15 1,145 
			 Asia Total 520 50 1,150 
			 Nationality not known 20  5 
			 Total 3,540 125 2,085 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, ( = 0. * = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) For completeness, the numbers already published for each region are also provided. (4) Provisional figures.

Asylum

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1429W, on asylum, 
	(1)  if she will clarify which parts of the letter of 7 July 2008 from the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill, to the hon. Member for Leeds East provide information relevant to  (a) the targets set within her Department for processing applications for leave to remain at each stage and  (b) the likely date for decision in the case of Mr Last Manzini (M1175940) whose application was lodged in February 2005; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she expects the application for leave to remain made by Mr Last Manzini (M1175940) in February 2005 will be decided; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 July 2008.

Asylum

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration and asylum cases have been dealt with by legacy case teams in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland to date; how many such cases remain outstanding; when she expects each such case to have been reviewed; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold this information in this format and to obtain it would entail work being carried out at a disproportionate cost.
	Lin Homer wrote to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 23 July 2008 to update them on the progress of the work of the Case Resolution Directorate in line with the commitment she gave in her letter dated 17 December 2007 to provide updates every six months.

Asylum: Iraq

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress she has made on the plans for a resettlement mission to Syria to discuss the cases of Iraqi former UK interpreters; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The practicalities of a resettlement mission in Syria remain under discussion. In the meantime, the Iraqis who meet the criteria for the Locally Engaged Staff scheme who are currently in Syria are in receipt of financial support and background checking which would be part of the assessment process of resettlement.

Borders: Personal Records

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department had spent on the e-borders project in total by 31 January 2008.

Liam Byrne: By 31 January 2008, 133.5 million had been invested in the e-Borders programme.

Borders: Personal Records

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the global roll-out of fingerprint visas under the e-Borders programme.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 May 2008
	We delivered global roll out of our visa biometric programme in December, three months early and several million pounds under budget. To date, over 2.5 million enrolments have generated over 19,000 matches to data recorded in connection with a previous immigration or asylum matter in the United Kingdom and bringing to notice over 3,100 applications which have been lodged in a different identity.
	UK Border Agency are now averaging 1,200 matches a month to visa applicants who have previously been fingerprinted in the United Kingdom in association with an immigration or asylum matter.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of UK passenger movements she expects will utilise passenger name record data in 2013;
	(2)  when her Department expects to complete the risk assessment for the routes which will capture other passenger information (OPI); and what plans she has to announce which routes will utilise OPI.

Liam Byrne: The e-Borders Programme will check and screen against watch lists 60 per cent., of all passenger and crew movements in and out of the UK by December 2009, 95 per cent., by December 2010 and 100 per cent., by 2014.
	We do not intend to publish details of those routes for which Passenger Name Record data will be captured as this is operationally sensitive.

British Crime Survey

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost of conducting the British Crime Survey was in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office commission an external survey research company to carry out the British Crime Survey on its behalf. The contract for this work is let every three years following a competitive tendering exercise. The cost of this contract in each of the years asked about was 3.1 million in 2003-04, 4.5 million in 2004-05, 4.6 million in 2005-06, 4.8 million in 2006-07 and 4.6 million in 2007-08.

British Nationality

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the granting of full citizenship would be delayed for those granted probationary citizenship should  (a) a family member be found guilty of an offence and  (b) the individual lose a case in the civil courts.

Liam Byrne: In the Government response to the consultation on the Green Paper 'the path to citizenship' we set out that we believe there is some value in supporting, and where necessary, challenging parents whose children offend. We recognise that there are sensitive issues which we need to consider carefully before proceeding and will establish a cross-Government working group to determine how to connect our proposals with other Government sanctions on youth crime.

British Nationality: Gurkhas

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the three routes to citizenship and three stages in the journey outlined in The Path to Citizenship, will apply to Gurkha soldiers who completed their service  (a) before and  (b) after 1 July 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 March 2008
	 The objective behind the proposals outlined by the Green Paper is to create a new clear framework for the journey to citizenship and clarify the routes to British citizenship/permanent residence via probationary citizenship.
	The consultation period ended on 14 May and we published the Government's response document on 14 July.
	We are continuing to assess how existing routes to settlement may fall within these proposals. As part of this work we will be considering in what way the new requirements might apply to all those non-EEA nationals who have obtained indefinite leave following their discharge from the armed forces.
	We are also continuing in our discussions with the Ministry of Defence on various matters affecting the position of the armed forces with regard to immigration and citizenship issues. Although these considerations are ongoing there is no intention at this time to confer additional routes to citizenship for Gurkha soldiers discharged prior to 1 July 1997. The lawfulness of the immigration rules as they apply to Gurkha soldiers discharged prior to 1 July 1997 is subject to judicial review in September 2008 and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
	I am however pleased to have been able to agree to a number of important measures as part of the wider package of commitments across government to better support serving personnel, their families and veterans. Details of these can be found in the MOD Command Paper The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans (Cm 7424).

Burglary

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of reported house burglaries were investigated by each police force in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Home Office collects statistics on the number of offences recorded and detected by the police but not on the number of offences investigated.

Citizenship

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which benefits the Government considers to be mainstream benefits, as referred to in her Department's Green Paper, A Pathway to Citizenship.

Liam Byrne: In the Government response to the consultation on the Green Paper 'the path to citizenship', we set out that migrants in the temporary residence and probationary citizenship categories will have no access to non-contributory benefits, social assistance, local authority housing or homelessness assistance.
	Limited exceptions to this will be where we are meeting our obligations under international agreements and international law. Temporary residents and probationary citizens will have access to a limited number of national insurance based benefits but only once they have paid for them.
	Refugees will continue to have access to benefits at all stages of the process.

Citizenship

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how her Department plans to verify claims of active citizenship on the part of migrants granted probationary citizenship; and what discussions officials in her Department have had with  (a) representatives of the voluntary sector,  (b) local authorities and  (c) other bodies on their roles in the verification process.

Liam Byrne: At paragraph 178 of the Green Paper we have proposed that we will verify activities by written evidence from a referee. This would build on the current application process for citizenship, which requires applicants to submit details of two referees who have known the applicant personally for three years. Knowingly making a false declaration can lead to a penalty of up to three months' imprisonment or a fine not exceeding 5,000.
	Migrants who have contributed to their community would be required to provide a third referee to confirm personally the evidence of active citizenship provided by the applicant, with the same potential penalties applying. We consider that this represents a cost effective and 'light touch' regime, which nonetheless provides a clear deterrent for anyone seeking to abuse the process.
	We will continue to discuss these proposals with relevant bodies including representatives from local government and the third sector to help us identify the most effective and practical way of implementing this proposal.

Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage and how many violent incidences according to the British Crime Survey resulted in the victim needing  (a) medical attention from a doctor,  (b) some form of medical attention and  (c) a hospital stay in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The percentage of violent incidents resulting in the victim needing  (a) medical attention from a doctor,  (b) some form of medical attention and  (c) a hospital stay in England and Wales are published annually in the Home Office statistical bulletin Crime in England and Wales (copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library) and are included in the following table.
	Comparable figures prior to 2001-02 are not available due to changes to question wording introduced in 2001-02.
	Analysis of the number of violent incidents broken down as requested is not routinely produced and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Copies of the BCS datasets are made publicly available for secondary analysis at the UK Data Archive.
	
		
			  Medical attention in violent incidents( 1) , 2001-02 to 2007-08, BCS 
			  Percentage 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Some form of medical attention(2) 14 16 15 16 15 16 12 
			 Medical attention from a doctor n/a 11 11 11 11 12 9 
			 Hospital stay(3) 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 
			 Unweighted base 1,037 1,420 1,413 1,468 1,536 1,667 1,547 
			 (1) From 1997 to 2005-06, 'All violence' included wounding, robbery, snatch theft, assault with minor injury and assault with no injury. In 2006-07 there were revisions to the BCS violence category and snatch theft was excluded. 'All violence' now includes wounding, robbery, assault with minor injury and assault with no injury. (2) Asked of victims where force or violence was threatened or used. (3) This question asks whether the victim stayed in hospital for at least one night and is asked of those who sought medical attention (excluding dentists); base is victims of all violent incidents.

Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of violent incidents occurred, according to the British Crime Survey, where the victim was classified by ACORN as  (a) wealthy achievers,  (b) in urban prosperity,  (c) comfortably off,  (d) moderate means and  (e) in hard pressed in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of  (a) violent incidents,  (b) burglaries,  (c) vehicle-related thefts,  (d) vandalism and  (e) theft from the person occurred, according to the British Crime Survey, where the victim lived in (i) a semi-detached house, (ii) a detached house, (iii) a terraced house, (iv) a flat or maisonette and (v) other accommodation in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of  (a) violent incidents,  (b) burglaries,  (c) vehicle related thefts,  (d) vandalism and  (e) theft from the person occurred, according to the British Crime Survey, where the victim was a (i) owner-occupier, (ii) social renter and (iii) private renter in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many and what percentage of  (a) violent incidents,  (b) burglaries and  (c) vehicle related thefts occurred, according to the British Crime Survey, where the victim was (i) unemployed, (ii) employed, (iii) a student, (iv) looking after a family home, (v) long-term or temporarily sick, (vi) retired and (vii) other unclassified in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(5)  how many and what percentage of  (a) violent incidents,  (b) burglaries,  (c) vehicle related thefts,  (d) vandalism and  (e) theft from the person occurred, according to the British Crime Survey, to a victim whose yearly income was (i) less than 10,000, (ii) between 10,000 and 20,000, (iii) between 20,000 and 30,000, (iv) between 30,000 and 40,000, (v) between 40,000 and 50,000 and (vi) 50,000 and above in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(6)  what percentage and how many  (a) victims of burglary and  (b) non-victims of burglary according to the British Crime Survey owned (i) a burglar alarm, (ii) a deadlock, (iii) an outdoor sensor, (iv) an indoor sensor, (v) window locks, (vi) window bars and (vii) a security chain on the door in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(7)  what percentage and how many  (a) violent incidents and  (b) burglaries occurred according to the British Crime Survey where the victim had (i) a long-standing illness or disability which limits activities, (ii) a long-standing illness which does not limit activity and (iii) no long-standing illness in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin Crime in England and Wales routinely presents analyses of the British Crime Survey (BCS) showing the risk of being a victim of crime by the various socio-demographic characteristics requested. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library (the most recent publication is Crime in England and Wales 2007-08).
	Information on the number and proportion of incidents broken down as requested are not routinely produced could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Copies of the BCS datasets are made publicly available for secondary analysis at the UK Data Archive.

Crime: Computers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many phishing incidents were  (a) reported to and  (b) investigated by police forces in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not keep of record of this information. However, figures from the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) show that while the number of phishing attacks has increased, the overall losses are falling.
	Phishing is an attempt to commit fraud and is therefore recorded as such. The public are encouraged to report phishing e-mail attacks to their bank by going to the website
	banksafeonline.org

Crime: Per Capita Costs

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies her Department has undertaken to establish the per capita cost of crimes in the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office first published estimates of the costs of crime in England and Wales in 2000. A partial update of these estimates, covering crime against individuals and households only, was published in 2005. Both reports are available for download from the Home Office publications website. The Economic and Social Costs of Crime Against Individuals and Households (Home Office Online Report 30/05) can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr3005.pdf and The Economic and Social Costs of Crime (Home Office Research Study 217) can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors217.pdf.
	The Department has not published any estimates of the costs of crime per capita.

Crime: Rural Areas

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the potential relationship between rural crime and the use of ketamine.

Vernon Coaker: No assessment has been made between rural crime and the use of Ketamine.
	Ketamine is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Government's message is clear that it is harmful and should not be taken. All drugs are harmful and cause significant and wide ranging problems for individuals, families and communities from health harms (such as HIV or drug related deaths) to drug-related crime and associated antisocial behaviour and the fear that this causes. It is estimated that between a third and a half of all acquisitive crime is drug-related.
	The Government's new Drug Strategy clearly sets out our aim that we want fewer and fewer people to start using drugs and that the Government want a society free of the problems caused by drugs.

Crime: Statistics

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures  (a) her Department and  (b) police services collate on (i) youth and gang-related nuisance, (ii) vandalism and damage to property, (iii) drug nuisance and drug dealing, (iv) prostitution and kerb-crawling, (v) dog and animal nuisance and (vi) harassment and intimidation; and what the lowest administrative unit is at which such figures are collated.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office (HO), National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and police forces collect data on the following areas respectively:
	 (i) youth and gang-related nuisance
	a. The number of incidents of antisocial behaviour (ASB), as defined by the National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR) (NPIA and forces).
	b. The number of incidents of ASB which are 'youth-related' as defined by NSIR (NPIA and forces).
	c. No information is collated centrally on 'gang'-related incidents. This may be collected by forces on a local level but the HO and NPIA do not collate this information.
	 (ii) vandalism and damage to property
	d. Number of offences of criminal damage recorded by the police (HO and forces).
	e. Additionally, the British crime survey includes estimates of criminal damage to property or vehicles belonging to private households.
	 (iii) drug nuisance and dealing
	f. The number of (non-notifable crime) incidents where 'drugs' represent a characteristic or motivating factor behind the incident (NPIA and forces). Note that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and City of London Police do not collate this information.
	g. The number of drugs offences recorded by the police (HO and forces).
	 (iv) prostitution and kerb-crawling
	h. Number of offences of 'soliciting for the purpose of prostitution' (commonly known as 'kerb crawling' recorded by the police) (HO and forces).
	Number of incidents of 'prostitution-related activity' as defined by NSIR (NPIA and forces).
	 (v) dog and animal nuisance
	i. The number of ASB 'animal problems' as defined by NSIR (this includes dogs) (NPIA and forces).
	 (vi) harassment and intimidation
	j. Number of crimes of 'harassment' recorded by the police (HO and forces).
	 (vii) litter, rubbish and fly-tipping
	k. The number of incidents of ASB 'environmental damage/littering' as defined by NSIR.
	l. The number of crimes of 'fly-tipping' recorded by the police (HO and forces).
	Forces and the NPIA collate incident data at force and basic command unit (BCU) level. Many forces collate this information at a lower level (CDRP/ward) but this will vary from force to force.
	The HO collates notifiable crime at BCU, local authority and crime and disorder reduction partnership levels. Forces may collate these data at a ward level.
	Full monthly crime and incident data at these reporting levels can be found on the Iquanta system at:
	https://iquanta.net/
	Crime statistics and the British crime survey results can be found at:
	http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/statistics/statistics074.htm
	The MPS and City of London Police do not collate information on drugs-related incidents.

Crime: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the levels of incidence of  (a) violent crime,  (b) car crime,  (c) robbery and  (d) burglary in Tamworth constituency since 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The available information relates to offences recorded in the Tamworth crime and disorder reduction partnership area and is given in the following table.
	A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics in 2007. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and we now provide figures for violence against the person. In addition, a new offence group of 'offences against vehicles' has also been created. This group includes offences of theft of and from a vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and interfering with a motor vehicle.
	
		
			  Specific offences recorded by the police in Tamworth 
			   Violence against the person  Offences against vehicles( 1)  Robbery  Burglary 
			 2006-07 2,214 965 77 838 
			 2007-08 1,798 900 64 791 
			 (1) Includes offences of theft of and from a vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and interfering with a motor vehicle.

Crimes of Violence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the level of  (a) knife crime and  (b) violent crime against the person in each (i) county and (ii) constituency in England and Wales.

Vernon Coaker: From April 2007, police forces have been providing the Home Office with aggregate data on serious violence (attempted murder, GBH and robbery) involving knives and sharp instruments. These offences are centrally available at police force area and region level rather than County or Constituency level, and are given in Table (A) placed in the House Library.
	Available data from the Homicide Index relate to offences currently recorded as homicide where the apparent method of killing was 'sharp instrument', as at 12 November 2007. Table (B) shows the number of such offences recorded by police force area and region in England and Wales in 2006-07 placed in the House Library.
	Violent crime offences by police force area and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are given in tables (C ) and (D) respectively placed in the House Library.

Crimes of Violence: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were committed in central Halifax in the last period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: In response to the two reviews of crime statistics in 2007, the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with recorded crime statistics and figures for violence against the person are now provided.
	Recorded crime statistics are collected at crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) level. Central Halifax comes within the Calderdale CDRP.
	In 2007-08, there were 3,718 violence against the person offences recorded in the Calderdale CDRP. This represents a 5 per cent. fall compared with the previous year.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Criminal Records Bureau disclosed the personal history of one individual to another individual as a result of mistaken identity in each year since its inception; and how many complaints the Bureau has received as a result of such errors;
	(2)  how many applicants for Criminal Records Bureau checks were asked to supply fingerprint evidence to resolve cases of mistaken identity in each year since its inception; and what percentage of all checks this represented.

Meg Hillier: All the quality control procedures at the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) are geared to achieving the highest levels of accuracy. In addition, the CRB carries out a post disclosure accuracy check that analyses all aspects of the disclosure application and its issue. This check was introduced in 2007 and is based on a statistical sample of disclosure applications and from that sample it can be ascertained that the accuracy rate for 2006-07 is 99.94 per cent. and for 2007-08 is 99.98 per cent.
	Over the past 12 months the CRB have issued 3,457,424 disclosures and have used applicants' fingerprints 358 times to distinguish them from records held on the police national computer (PNC) to which they had originally been matched. Of these, 115 applicants were found to have been correctly matched to the record held on PNC. The number found to be incorrectly matched to a record on PNC following fingerprints represents 0.007 per cent. of disclosures issued during the past 12 months.
	No comparative data are available on either of these issues prior to the dates referred to.

Criminal Records Bureau: Standards

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of record checks processed by the Criminal Records Bureau were completed within  (a) 10,  (b) 14,  (c) 25 and  (d) 60 days in each year since 2002, broken down by police force area; and how many checks were not completed within 60 days;
	(2)  how many  (a) standard and  (b) enhanced record checks were processed by the Criminal Records Bureau in each year since 2002, broken down by police force area;
	(3)  how many certificates have been requested in respect of  (a) people wishing to work in the voluntary sector,  (b) unemployed people and  (c) disabled people in each year since the Criminal Records Bureau's inception; how many certificates were requested in each year; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what the average waiting time was for a police check to be completed through the Criminal Records Bureau in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(5)  what assessment she has made of variations in police forces' performance in supplying information to the Criminal Records Bureau within 14 days;
	(6)  how many Criminal Records Bureau checks have been carried out in each year since 2000.

Meg Hillier: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has issued over 16 million disclosures since inception and operates to a set of public service standards (PSS) which are to issue 90 per cent. of standard disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within 28 days.
	Data concerning the average time taken to complete a disclosure by police force area are not collated by the CRB.
	Average figures do not give an accurate indication of performance, since any forces' performance can be affected by a number of factors; the volume of cases sent to a force to process in any given month, the number of staff available to process the checks and the IT resources on hand to forces. With these variables, performance can fluctuate within individual forces from one month to the next.
	The CRB has been supporting those forces that have encountered problems in meeting their targets by a range of measures including the provision of additional resources, monitoring performance, providing demand forecasting data and assistance in introducing new IT initiatives.
	The total number of standard and enhanced disclosures processed in each year since 2002 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  CRB checks processed 
			  Financial year  Standard disclosures  Enhanced disclosures  Total 
			 2002-03 178,375 1,258,719 1,437,094 
			 2003-04 285,130 1,999,558 2,284,688 
			 2004-05 275,197 2,155,740 2,430,937 
			 2005-06 313,368 2,456,897 2,770,265 
			 2006-07 329,223 2,948,734 3,277,957 
			 2007-08 294,592 3,028,659 3,323,251 
			 2008-09(1) 96,751 808,933 905,684 
			 Grand total 1,772,636 14,657,240 16,429,876 
			 (1) April to June 2008 
		
	
	The CRB cannot provide figures broken down by police force area. This is because standard disclosures are processed without any requirement for the police forces to conduct checks and several different police forces may be required to conduct checks in order to produce one enhanced disclosure.
	An internal service level agreement between the CRB and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has been in place since April 2006. This SLA has been agreed by ACPO on behalf of the 43 local police forces in England and Wales and the time taken by each force to complete their part of the enhanced disclosure process is measured against targets of 10 days, 14 days, 25 days and 60 days. By meeting these targets the police forces directly affect the CRB's ability to meet the public service standard for enhanced disclosures.
	The following table illustrates the number of enhanced disclosure checks completed by each police force in 10 days, 14 days, 25 days, 60 days and over 60 days during 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			  Force name  10  days  14  days  25  days  60  days  Over 60 days  10  days  14  days  25  days  60  days  Over 60 days 
			 Avon and Somerset 43879 93111 108469 111271 0 85959 107420 120003 112050 0 
			 Bedfordshire 47440 48129 48483 48547 0 47490 48409 48846 45003 0 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 26103 27481 27747 25225 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 25824 32216 49424 62271 0 18034 32199 43180 58902 0 
			 Cheshire 8030 11564 43819 71017 0 10859 16482 40738 67775 504 
			 City of London 1382 1723 2028 2169 0 2047 2134 2351 2625 0 
			 Cleveland 15405 23703 35079 37483 0 14387 24944 33190 36899 0 
			 Cumbria 6575 10040 14349 24828 4053 14791 23041 30447 29242 0 
			 Derbyshire 18760 26516 35059 54099 4146 43581 53789 63989 61897 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 45797 68380 105171 117227 0 113909 121696 125271 119995 0 
			 Disclosure Scotland 26815 28925 30249 31511 0 31037 33415 34974 34310 0 
			 Dorset 46930 53506 54681 54946 0 47649 53169 56463 52599 0 
			 Durham 7157 12375 31851 39869 0 35208 36662 39574 39102 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 33222 35083 35261 35404 0 39832 40549 40715 37400 0 
			 Essex 61369 85999 102264 111256 0 49830 64662 84036 107281 0 
			 Gloucester 13597 21993 31125 37304 0 14720 20887 29777 36795 0 
			 Greater Manchester 68327 93987 126424 184819 0 45263 80962 136666 145946 26312 
			 Gwent 8824 17202 24858 30437 593 26235 30862 34873 34912 0 
			 Hampshire 78786 99644 120398 133172 0 131098 135087 142324 139304 0 
			 Hertfordshire 33459 49524 81527 84445 0 76481 83461 86849 80105 0 
			 Humberside 9273 24601 50376 58215 0 13588 23991 29055 46592 7898 
			 Kent 59155 94174 111094 113222 0 30706 55483 99596 108555 0 
			 Lancashire 33841 45900 87983 104249 0 105668 109634 111814 103871 0 
			 Leicestershire 22446 32375 45558 58299 1459 42165 47216 53172 58054 3270 
			 Lincolnshire 50830 56430 59698 67801 0 44892 51405 55102 62732 0 
			 Merseyside 34190 68775 104184 111844 0 48159 62800 96784 106086 0 
			 Metropolitan 286186 325447 393839 540931 19344 435609 504979 593919 570469 0 
			 Norfolk 7505 12020 27460 55483 0 29751 35841 51891 54207 0 
			 North Wales 806 2937 29325 50502 0 34766 42740 50801 51467 0 
			 North Yorkshire 58458 60175 60765 60897 0 39593 56089 68958 66953 0 
			 Northamptonshire 47859 50245 50876 51144 0 28066 41371 51600 48146 0 
			 Northumbria 31168 60539 72251 84925 818 54475 67766 76426 84735 6552 
			 Nottinghamshire 7412 14555 35382 64849 0 59897 68168 70312 65498 0 
			 Police Service Northern Ireland 9459 9467 9469 9477 0 12188 12237 12370 11691 0 
			 South Wales 19522 35793 54663 75119 0 63949 77581 80105 76668 0 
			 South Yorkshire 6448 16914 59988 79445 0 32993 64689 82056 81453 0 
			 Staffordshire 21235 31633 38614 60007 8301 26701 35020 60733 68841 175 
			 Suffolk 31190 35802 40470 42171 1169 1911 9998 30110 42709 0 
			 Surrey 30111 40229 64876 86852 0 41302 57331 79640 83233 0 
			 Sussex 9635 19905 48482 109517 0 97642 109699 124141 116701 0 
			 Thames Valley 12388 27922 103885 155692 0 126558 146380 168776 164802 0 
			 Warwickshire 20285 27982 35431 36030 0 30029 34285 38144 35899 0 
			 West Mercia 88213 89059 90072 90835 0 76808 85095 93350 90527 0 
			 West Midlands 133738 155036 168954 183927 0 151815 158882 161488 169480 312 
			 West Yorkshire 30124 65927 115026 149488 0 78169 110032 135273 141926 0 
			 Wiltshire 27143 32615 40921 45995 0 39355 41974 47827 47249 0 
		
	
	The following table illustrates the percentage of checks completed by each police force in 10 days, 14 days, 25 days, 60 days and over 60 days during 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			  Force name  10 days  14 days  25 days  60 days  Over 60 days  10 days  14 days  25 days  60 days  Over 60 days 
			 Avon and Somerset 41 87 100 100 0 79 98 100 100 0 
			 Bedfordshire 100 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 100 100 100 100 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 43 54 83 100 0 30 54 72 100 0 
			 Cheshire 11 17 63 100 0 15 22 55 99 1 
			 City of London 66 82 96 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 Cleveland 49 75 100 100 0 39 68 91 100 0 
			 Cumbria 23 35 50 86 14 47 74 97 100 0 
			 Derbyshire 32 46 60 93 7 66 81 97 100 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 42 63 97 100 0 99 100 100 100 0 
			 Disclosure Scotland 100 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 Dorset 88 100 100 100 0 86 96 100 100 0 
			 Durham 19 32 83 100 0 87 90 97 100 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 99 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 Essex 59 82 98 100 0 44 57 74 100 0 
			 Gloucester 36 59 83 100 0 40 57 81 100 0 
			 Greater Manchester 40 55 73 100 0 24 44 74 86 14 
			 Gwent 28 55 80 98 2 77 91 100 100 0 
			 Hampshire 61 78 94 100 0 94 97 100 100 0 
			 Hertfordshire 44 65 100 100 0 93 100 100 100 0 
			 Humberside 16 42 87 100 0 23 41 50 87 14 
			 Kent 59 94 100 100 0 27 49 88 100 0 
			 Lancashire 32 44 84 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 Leicestershire 38 54 76 98 2 64 72 81 96 5 
			 Lincolnshire 75 83 88 100 0 67 77 82 100 0 
			 Merseyside 37 74 100 100 0 44 58 89 100 0 
			 Metropolitan 51 58 70 97 3 78 91 100 100 0 
			 Norfolk 15 25 56 100 0 54 64 93 100 0 
			 North Wales 2 6 62 100 0 65 80 95 100 0 
			 North Yorkshire 100 100 100 100 0 64 90 100 100 0 
			 Northamptonshire 100 100 100 100 0 59 87 100 100 0 
			 Northumbria 36 71 84 99 1 55 69 77 93 7 
			 Nottinghamshire 12 23 57 100 0 90 100 100 100 0 
			 Police Service Northern Ireland 100 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 100 0 
			 South Wales 28 51 79 100 0 79 96 100 100 0 
			 South Yorkshire 9 23 83 100 0 42 81 100 100 0 
			 Staffordshire 31 46 57 88 12 36 48 82 100 0 
			 Suffolk 72 83 93 97 3 4 22 67 100 0 
			 Surrey 37 50 80 100 0 49 68 95 100 0 
			 Sussex 10 20 48 100 0 87 97 100 100 0 
			 Thames Valley 8 18 67 100 0 74 85 99 100 0 
			 Warwickshire 60 83 100 100 0 84 96 100 100 0 
			 West Mercia 100 100 100 100 0 83 92 100 100 0 
			 West Midlands 77 89 97 100 0 83 87 89 100 0 
			 West Yorkshire 23 50 87 100 0 54 76 93 100 0 
			 Wiltshire 70 84 100 100 0 85 91 100 100 0 
		
	
	The CRB has developed the capacity to process in excess of 300,000 checks every month. Approximately 20 per cent. of applications are from volunteers and disclosures for volunteers continue to be processed free of charge.
	The number requested in respect of individuals wishing to work in the voluntary sector is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year record  Disclosures received  Volunteers  Total non-volunteers  Volunteers 
			 2002-03 1,651,134 241,211 1,409,923 14.6 
			 2003-04 2,358,627 429,096 1,929,531 18.2 
			 2004-05 2,532,451 521,144 2,011,307 20.6 
			 2005-06 2,860,296 587,479 2,272,817 20.5 
			 2006-07 3,252,640 665,420 2,587,220 20.5 
			 2007-08 3,408,595 682,258 2,726,337 20.0 
		
	
	The CRB does not capture data on whether applicants are unemployed or disabled.

Curfews: Children

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in contravention of their curfew notices have been removed to their place of residence by  (a) community support officers and  (b) police officers under paragraph 4B of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002 in each of the last four years, broken down by police authority area.

Vernon Coaker: Information is not collected in the form requested. Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 provides the police with two powers to disperse groups of two or more people and to return young people under 16 who are unsupervised in public places after 9 pm to their homes. 1,065 areas were designated for the exercise of these powers between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2006. Information on those removed to their place of residence for this period is not held. Information on numbers of designated areas and individuals removed to their place of residence for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 will be published shortly.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what purchasing process is used by her Department for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Liam Byrne: The Department's Facilities Management partner, Ecovert FM, provides hospitality (including alcohol) for the Department's headquarters at 2 Marsham street. Similar arrangements are provided by approved suppliers at the other Home Office locations.
	In exceptional circumstances, senior management are able to pay for an event and reclaim the cost from the Department.
	The official purchase and provision of alcohol is recognised as being an extraordinary undertaking and is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions her Department has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Aviation

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions she has used the Queen's Flight in each of the last five years; and how much her Department spent on chartering aircraft in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	A chartered aircraft was used to travel to Blackpool in 2007. The cost of this was 4,770. The Queen's Flight has not been used for any other internal flights in the last five years.

Departmental Buildings

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department's centre in Waterside Court in Kirkstall, Leeds was first flooded; what  (a) assessment she has made of the effects and  (b) estimate she has made of the cost of repair; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Waterside Court was originally a water mill built over the River Aire in the 17th century and is a grade II listed building. The Home Office took up leased occupation of a refurbished Waterside Court on 19 May 2000 and flooding was first experienced on 30 October 2000. The estimated cost of damage to the Department was 300,000. In order to protect against subsequent flooding, a demountable flood protection barrier was installed in 2001 at an approximate cost of 120,000.

Departmental Complaints

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by her Department's complaints officer in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 July 2008
	The information is as follows:
	 Home Office HQ
	The Home Office does not record complaints separately from day to day correspondence. All incoming correspondence, including any complaints, is scanned onto the Department's correspondence tracking system and is dealt with by the appropriate unit. Complaints are not identified as such on the system and no specific data are available.
	 Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
	The CRB does not record complaints separately from day to day correspondence.
	 United Kingdom Border Agency
	Data can be provided from 2000 for service delivery complaints and 2001 for misconduct complaints.
	The number of complaints received from members of the public through the United Kingdom Border Agency's central complaints unit (the Customer Focus Team), broken down by category and year is as follows:
	
		
			  Misconduct complaints (relating to staff behaviour) 
			   Number 
			 1 January 2001 to 31 March 2002 530 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 436 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 546 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 422 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 433 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 354 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 360 
		
	
	
		
			  Service delivery complaints (relating to level of service) 
			   Number 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 2,747 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 3,943 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 3,402 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 11,788 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 13,008 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 13,618 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 12,594 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 13,585 
		
	
	The data do not include complaints which may have been received within correspondence managed through separate processes, for example letter from Members of Parliament.
	 Identity and Passport Service (IPS)
	The information is not available save at disproportionate cost. IPS does not record all complaints centrally and it would be a major exercise to collate information from the seven regional offices as well as the 68 ION offices together with those escalated complaints that do come up to HQ.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has issued guidance to staff in her Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Core Home Office Security Operating Procedures, (which all users are automatically directed to read every six months) contain an instruction to shut down and power off at the end of each working day.
	Bi-weekly notices on UKBA Horizon include the same instruction and that printers should be switched off too.
	A Home Office Global notice, issued on 23 November 2007, reminds staff about saving energy by switching off equipment at the end of each day, including PCs, copiers, printers, lights, heaters and coolers.
	A Home Office Today (HOT) news story on 27 September 2007 gave examples of CO2 savings that could be achieved by switching off various pieces of equipment.
	On the Home Office Horizon site, there is a link dedicated to the Sustainable Development team, which advises on switching off, as well as promoting the Carbon Trust.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) average and  (b) highest pay rise among civil servants in her Department was in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is as follows:
	The following table details the average pay rise awarded to staff below the Senior Civil Service in Home Office Headquarters, the Border and Immigration Agency, and the Criminal Records Bureau. The figures include changes to the value of the pay scales (revalorisation) and for some years, additional progression through pay ranges beyond standard performance related progression.
	
		
			  Part A 
			   Average percentage increase: Home Office HQ and Border and Immigration Agency  Average percentage increase: Criminal Records Bureau 
			 2003-04 1.25 n/a 
			 2004-05 1.02 n/a 
			 2005-06 1.02 1.25 
			 2006-07 1.52 1.5 
			 2007-08 1.02 1.52 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for the Criminal Records Bureau are only available from 2005. 2 Information is not available for the Identity and Passport Service, as obtaining this information is possible only at disproportionate cost 3 Information is not available for the Prison Service, who were formally an agency of the Home Office prior to transferring to the Ministry of Justice on nine May 2007, as obtaining this information is possible only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	The average pay rises awarded to the Senior Civil Service were made in line with the recommendations of the Senior Salary Review Body (SSRB) which can be found at:
	http://www.ome.uk.com/review.cfm?body=4.
	The highest pay rises were awarded to the highest performing members of the Senior Civil Service (top 25 per cent.), in line with Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations and Cabinet Office guidance. The details of the highest pay rises are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Part B 
			   Highest percentage increase 
			 2003-04 9 
			 2004-05 9 
			 2005-06 9 
			 2006-07 6 
			 2007-08 3.5

Departmental Pay

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of  (a) salaries for permanent Civil Service posts,  (b) salaries for permanent non-Civil Service posts and  (c) payments to temporary or agency workers in her Department was in each month since May 2005.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office is unable to provide the information requested from current available sources and commissioning reports would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of staff of her Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Liam Byrne: 95 per cent. of senior civil service employees in the Home Office and her agencies did not receive the maximum bonus payable for the 2006-07 annual appraisal cycle.
	Within Home Office headquarters and the UK Border Agency, 67 per cent. of employees below the SCS did not receive an end of year performance bonus, and 33 per cent. received a flat rate bonus of 2 per cent. in 2006-07.
	IPS employees are eligible for end of year corporate bonuses, and grades 6 and 7 are eligible for change agent bonuses. It is not possible to provide information on the proportion of employees who received the maximum bonuses permissible without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Information is not yet available for the appraisal year 2007-08.
	Special bonuses are awarded for exceptional outstanding achievements by staff in particular demanding tasks or situations. It is not possible to provide information on the proportion of employees who received the maximum special bonus permissible without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department in line with other Government Departments requires payment to be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract usually within 30 days of the receipt of the goods or services or of a valid undisputed invoice whichever is the later.
	Agreement to requests for prompt payment terms of less than 30 days offer little to the Department unless tangible benefits in terms of discounted prices, better delivery times or service improvements are secured in return.
	Where there is a tangible benefit to both the Home Department (e.g. discounted price) and the supplier (e.g. optimising their cashflow) a payment period of less than 30 days may be negotiated between the parties and incorporated into the terms and conditions of contract.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums her Department has held in each of the last two years; and what the (i) purpose, (ii) cost, (iii) private contractor and (iv) amount paid to the private contractor was in each case.

Liam Byrne: Listening exercises and public forums were held on Citizenship, Immigration and Integration; Tackling DrugsChanging Lives; Crime and Drugs Strategy; Counter Terrorism community visits; Drugs Consultation; Young People Consultation; and Schools Pack Conferences.
	The purpose of these events was to gain public feedback to inform the Green Paper on The Path to Citizenship; to gain feedback for the next drug strategy; for Ministers to hear and learn from the concerns of community members they meet; to inform, support and mobilise stakeholders to deliver on new crime and drugs strategies; to listen to the views of young people on drug issues; and to disseminate Understanding Drugs pack and pupil booklet to educational practitioners responsible for delivery of school-based drug education lessons.
	To gain the information on the costs, contractors, and amounts paid to private contractors for each event could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as these data are not recorded separately on the Department's accounting systems.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list  (a) the reviews and  (b) public consultations initiated by her Department since 27 June 2007.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office undertakes a wide variety of reviews on various issues. Where necessary these would be available from the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk) under the specific review subject area. As noted in response to the hon. Member's earlier question on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 948W, all public consultations that we have initiated can be found at the following Home Office websites:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/haveyoursay/
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/consultations/

Departmental Sick Leave

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken on average  (a) by staff in her Department and  (b) in the Criminal Records Bureau in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the number of days' sick leave taken on average by staff in Home Office headquarters and each of its agencies, including the Criminal Records Bureau, for the last five financial years.
	
		
			  Number of sick days taken by staff in the Home Office and CRB in the last five years 
			   Average number of working days lost 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Home Office HQ 6.1 6.3 5.2 5.4 6.74 
			 UK Border Agency (UKBA) n/a n/a 9.92 10.23 11.2 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 9.6 9.6 8.8 8.6 10.79 
			 Identity and Passport Service 11.1 11.4 10.3 10.1 9.21 
			  Notes: 1. Data for 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 have been referenced from a previous PQ response on 11 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 339-40W. UKBA have provided updated figures due to an error in the previous figures. Figures for 2003-04 and 2004-05for UKBA are not available as this information is not recorded centrally. 2. In 2006-07 the Home Office HQ included the following departments; Communities Group, National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). NOMS and OCJR left in May 2007 to join the new Ministry of Justice, and Communities Group transferred to Department for Communities and Local Government in May 2006.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the annual staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We are unable to provide the information requested from current available sources and commissioning reports would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vetting

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of successful applicants for posts in her Department were subjected to a criminal records check in the latest period for which figures are available; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; on what criteria an applicant for a post is required to undergo a criminal records check; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The current position is that all staff recruited to posts within the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau) are subject to criminal records checks as part of the National Security Vetting (NSV). Checks are not random. Vetting is reviewed at various times during service.
	The following table shows the number of individuals subject to NSV. Machinery of government changes will have affected those to whom NSV applied over the last 10 years.
	The figures also include renewal of security clearance; not all refusals of NSV will have been for reasons of criminality.
	All figures include those HM Prison Service posts where the Home Office departmental security unit was required to complete the security clearance. HM Prison Service became an agency of the Ministry of Justice in May 2007.
	
		
			  1 April to 31 March each  Granted NSV( 1)  Refused NSV( 2)  Total 
			 1998-99 10,708 240 10,948 
			 1999-2000 12,829 303 13,132 
			 2000-01 20,928 694 21,622 
			 2001-02 26,079 767 26,846 
			 2002-03 30,391 1,188 31,579 
			 2003-04 27,237 2,251 29,488 
			 2004-05 24,155 1,239 25,393 
			 2005-06 26,592 1,305 27,897 
			 2006-07 27,535 1,827 29,363 
			 2007-08 21,151 1,018 22,169 
			 Total 227,605 10,832 238,437 
			 (1) Numbers include cases where a criminal record did not preclude granting of NSV. (2) Numbers include applicants who withdrew or where a criminal record may have resulted in refusal.

Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the Prime Minister's Statement of 14 November 2007 on national security, how many of the 24 foreign nationals then subject to deportation proceedings on national security grounds  (a) have been deported,  (b) have not been deported following a decision by a court,  (c) have been given the right to remain in the UK and  (d) have cases which are outstanding.

Liam Byrne: Since the Prime Minister's statement of 14 November 2007, of the 24 foreign nationals then subject to deportation proceedings on national security grounds:
	Twelve are no longer the subject of deportation proceedings following the Court of Appeal's ruling on the test cases of two Libyan nationals. Of these 12, eight previously had the right to remain in the UK and continue to do so. All 12 of the cases are under review as to their future immigration status. Twelve others remain subject to ongoing deportation proceedings and are at various stages of the appeals process.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce domestic violence.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 We have a cross-Government national delivery plan which provides a strategic framework to address domestic violence.
	The plan is a set of initiatives which includes the development of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVCs), establishing Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and rolling-out Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).
	We have recently increased the number of SDVCs to 98, provided funding to support IDVAs and are rolling out MARACs to achieve national coverage by 2010-11.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) physical and  (b) verbal assaults on refuse operatives were recorded in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information is not collected centrally in the recorded crime statistics. While the Home Office collects statistics on the number of offences of wounding and assault without injury, no information is available on the employment status of the victim.

Driving Offences: Disqualification

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on whether disqualification from driving ordered by a court in a member state should apply in other member states.

Vernon Coaker: The United Kingdom is signatory to the 1998 convention on driving disqualifications, which was signed by the then 15 member states of the European Union. The provisions of the convention were brought into the law of Great Britain by the Crime (International Cooperation) Act 2003 and for Northern Ireland by a corresponding Order in Council. The convention is intended to ensure that a driver resident in one country and disqualified in another country for a motoring offence committed there, should not escape the consequences of that disqualification when he or she returns home. The convention will take effect when all 15 signatory states have ratified it. So far as we are aware, only Spain of the original signatories has done so. As yet, no member state of the European Union has put this convention into practical effect.
	However, the convention provides that a member state may meanwhile declare formally to the European Union authorities that it will recognise the driving disqualifications of any other member state which has made the same declaration. On 26 June this year the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport agreed with his Irish and Northern Ireland colleagues that the United Kingdom and Ireland should aim to make parallel formal declarations to this effect as soon as practicable, with a view to instituting mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between the United Kingdom and Ireland under the 1998 convention in the course of spring 2009.
	I am not aware that any other Member State has plans to take a similar step in the near future.

Drugs: Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government plans to take to reduce levels of drug-related crime.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 The new comprehensive 10-year drug strategy, Drugs: protecting families and communities and first three year action were published on 27 February. The strategy is focused on preventing the number of young people developing drug problems, targeting families at risk and intervening early through a whole family approach, protecting communities through robust enforcement by attacking drug supply at all levels and cutting drug-related crime and disorder.
	Key actions to reduce drug-related crime include:
	Extending police powers to seize more of drug dealers' (and other criminals') assets, and further asset sharing agreements to allow seizure of assets sequestered overseas.
	Continuing to present drug misusing offenders with tough choices to change their behaviour or face the consequences.
	Managing offenders better at crucial times, such as on discharge into the community from prison, by reviewing and strengthening the links between prisons, local Criminal Justice Integrated Teams (CJITs)and probation services.
	Responding to community concerns about drugs and through the Neighbourhood Policing approach, act on intelligence supplied and provide feedback to the community.

Drugs: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from  (a) Leeds West and  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District were (i) arrested and (ii) convicted of drug trafficking offences as a result of National Crime Squad operations in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The National Crime Squad did not retain information on where people arrested and/or convicted of drug trafficking offences were originally from. The Serious Organised Crime Agency, which was formed in April 2006, similarly does not collect this information.

Drugs: Misuse

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce levels of illegal drug consumption.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 In February, the Government published the new 10-year drug strategy, Drugs: protecting families and communities, which sets out the action that will be taken to address the harms caused by drug misuse and to reduce levels of drug consumption. This strategy builds on the successes of the previous drug strategy, focusing action where it will generate the greatest benefit and extending the reach and effectiveness of our interventions.
	Since the introduction of the previous strategy in 1998, we have seen significant falls in the self-reported use of illegal drugs. Data from the British Crime Survey show that in 2007-08, compared to 1997, the proportion of respondents aged 16-59 reporting the use of any illegal drug in the year preceding the survey fell from 12.1 per cent. to 9.3 per cent., while the proportion reporting the use of class A drugs remained stable. The same data show us that, compared to the previous year, there have been significant reductions in the use of cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis.
	This pattern is repeated among young people. Data from the survey show that, among young people aged 16-24, class A drug use has fallen from 8.6 per cent. in 1997 to 6.8 per cent. in 2007-08, while the use of any illegal drug has fallen from 31.8 per cent. to 21.3 per cent. over the same period. Again, there have been falls in the use of individual drugs compared to the previous year, including cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis.
	The drug strategy takes a comprehensive approach to reducing the demand for, and consumption of, illegal drugs. This approach spans:
	prevention activity through more effective drug education and information, and through early targeted interventions with the families and young people who are most at risk of developing problems; interventions through the criminal justice system where problematic drug misuse has led to offending, coupled with tough enforcement action to tackle the supply of illegal drugs;
	effective treatment and support, to help people to overcome problems with drugs and to re-establish their lives; and
	communications activity, to support parents in preventing drug use among their children, and to increase the confidence and resilience of communities.
	Copies of the drug strategy were placed in the Library at the time of its publication and I refer my hon. Friend to the actions in the strategy which are being taken to reduce the use of illegal drugs.

Drugs: Smuggling

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested and  (b) convicted of drug trafficking offences as a result of National Crime Squad operations in 2005-06.

Jacqui Smith: In 2005-06, the National Crime Squad reported 562 arrests in connection with the trafficking of Class A drugs. During the same period there were 309 convictions in connection with the trafficking of Class A drugs.

Drugs: Smuggling

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested on suspicion of and  (b) convicted of drug trafficking offences as a result of operations by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Jacqui Smith: In 2006-07, SOCA recorded that there were 601 arrests and 236 convictions in operations where drug trafficking offences was the primary threat. Similarly in 2007-08 there were 774 arrests and 243 convictions in operations where drug trafficking was the primary threat.

Drugs: Smuggling

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) apprehended,  (b) charged and  (c) imprisoned for drug importation and dealing offences as a result of maritime operations carried out by (i) the UK Border Agency and (ii) other agencies involved in border patrols in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for maritime operations which had previously been undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs and were formerly the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.
	Arrest, prosecution and sentencing results arising from maritime operations are not distinguished from those arising from other border operations. Therefore, the information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost to the business.
	UKBA Maritime assets work regularly in support of operations by both the police and SOCA in order to provide the earliest possible interdiction of importation attempts and suspected attempts.

Drugs: Smuggling

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the value of drugs seized in maritime operations by  (a) the UK Border Agency and  (b) other agencies involved in border patrols, expressed in 2008 prices, in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for maritime operations which had previously been undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs and were formerly the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.
	Seizure results arising from maritime operations are not distinguished from those arising from other border operations. As a result of this, the information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost to the business.

Emergency Calls

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many telephone calls made to emergency 999 telephone operators in which the caller wished to report a crime were not treated as an appropriate 999 call in  (a) North Kent,  (b) Kent and  (c) England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many telephone calls reporting crimes were made to  (a) the 999 emergency number and  (b) local police stations in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the average (i) cost and (ii) duration of such calls.

Tony McNulty: The available data on 999 calls are given in the following table. The remainder of the information requested is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Emergency call handling (provisional)( 1)  by force for 2006-07 
			   Local target time for answering calls (seconds)  Number of 999 calls received  Number of 999 calls answered within target 
			 Avon and Somerset 10 281,336 241,038 
			 Bedfordshire 15 97,357 91,611 
			 Cambridgeshire 12 142,520 128,425 
			 Cheshire 15 153,233 140,753 
			 Cleveland 10 104,779 100,680 
			 Cumbria 10 58,782 51,363 
			 Derbyshire 10 159,633 150,555 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10 268,763 229,554 
			 Dorset 10 93,434 84,289 
			 Durham 10 99,609 86,200 
			 Dyfed-Powys 10 52,026 46,108 
			 Essex 15 265,394 248,395 
			 Gloucestershire 10 158,447 150,564 
			 Greater Manchester 15 751,545 664,691 
			 Gwent 10 109,401 91,656 
			 Hampshire 10 290,987 256,908 
			 Hertfordshire 10 168,388 156,607 
			 Humberside 10 156,655 141,376 
			 Kent 10 234,421 226,957 
			 Lancashire 10 266,505 241,427 
			 Leicestershire 15 151,539 134,660 
			 Lincolnshire 10 88,478 84,875 
			 London, City of(2) 15 1,106,053 904,245 
			 Merseyside 10 374,864 342,795 
			 Metropolitan police 15 2,278,003 1,852,490 
			 Norfolk 10 104,119 93,656 
			 Northamptonshire 10 117,115 107,929 
			 Northumbria 15 264,349 245,006 
			 North Wales 10 108,884 101,035 
			 North Yorkshire 10 97,884 83,275 
			 Nottinghamshire 10 264,571 233,873 
			 South Wales 10 292,558 229,846 
			 South Yorkshire 15 247,013 206,040 
			 Staffordshire 10 168,324 147,867 
			 Suffolk 10 100,351 94,763 
			 Surrey 10 166,496 150,644 
			 Sussex 10 272,173 261,162 
			 Thames Valley 10 353,680 321,602 
			 Warwickshire 15 86,996 71,797 
			 West Mercia(3)
			 West Midlands 10 708,764 530,539 
			 West Yorkshire 15 482,241 434,359 
			 Wiltshire(4) 10 80,712 71,904 
			 (1) Data collected on behalf of HMIC who use them for inspection purposes only. These data are provisional, and have not been validated with forces. (2 )Data are not available for City of London for quarters 2 to 3. (3 )Data are not available for West Mercia for quarters 1 to 4. (4 )Data are not available for Wiltshire for quarter 4.

Entry Clearances

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2008,  Official Report, column 343W, on entry clearances, on what date the applications for entry clearances submitted by applicants N214395 and N1102544 (CTS reference M13830/7) were first received by the Border and Immigration Agency; when the assigned case worker in the family casework team referred to in the answer began to deal with the case; when work on the case was completed; when the substantive decision on the case was made; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 I wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 July 2008.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) student entry visas and  (b) extensions to student visas were granted to non-EU students of each nationality in each year since 2001; and what proportion of applications for extensions to such visas were granted in respect of students of each nationality.

Liam Byrne: The available figures on non-EEA students given leave to enter the United Kingdom and those granted an extension of leave to remain can be found in the yearly Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The following table shows the proportion of applications for extension of leave to remain that were granted in respect of non-EEA students in 2006. Tables for previous years can be produced only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain( 1)  in the United Kingdom, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals, 2006( 2) : Students 
			  Number of decisions 
			of which: 
			  Country of nationality  Total decisions  Grant of extension  Percentage of total  Refusal of extension  Percentage of total 
			 Albania 155 145 94.8 10 5.2 
			 Algeria 200 195 98.0 5 2.0 
			 Angola 165 160 95.8 5 4.2 
			 Argentina 110 95 86.1 15 13.9 
			 Australia 210 195 92.9 15 7.1 
			 Bangladesh 4,525 4,400 97.2 125 2.8 
			 Belarus 360 350 97.5 10 2.5 
			 Bolivia 820 755 91.9 65 8.1 
			 Botswana 190 150 80.9 35 19.1 
			 Brazil 4,615 4,215 91.3 400 8.7 
			 Bulgaria 190 170 91.0 15 9.0 
			 Cameroon 570 545 95.1 30 4.9 
			 Canada 335 320 95.5 15 4.5 
			 Chile 110 105 92.8 10 7.2 
			 China (Peoples Republic of) 25,105 24,695 98.4 410 1.6 
			 Colombia 1,885 1,840 97.8 40 2.2 
			 Ecuador 135 130 94.2 10 5.8 
			 Egypt 165 160 97.6 5 2.4 
			 Gambia 1,005 925 92.1 80 7.9 
			 Georgia 540 520 96.3 20 3.7 
			 Ghana 3,990 3,700 92.7 290 7.3 
			 Grenada 110 90 81.3 20 18.8 
			 Guinea 220 205 94.1 15 5.9 
			 Guyana 105 95 90.7 10 9.3 
			 Hong Kong 980 895 91.5 85 8.5 
			 India 13,880 13,575 97.8 305 2.2 
			 Indonesia 285 275 96.1 10 3.9 
			 Iran 1,290 1,250 96.7 40 3.3 
			 Israel 270 250 92.3 20 7.7 
			 Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire) 645 620 96.0 25 4.0 
			 Jamaica 3,755 3,180 84.7 575 15.3 
			 Japan 1,775 1,730 97.5 45 2.5 
			 Jordan 260 250 95.8 10 4.2 
			 Kazakhstan 130 125 98.4 * 1.6 
			 Kenya 1,300 1,220 93.6 85 6.4 
			 Korea (South) 3,300 3,215 97.4 85 2.6 
			 Kyrgyzstan 190 175 93.7 10 6.3 
			 Lebanon 175 170 95.5 10 4.5 
			 Libya 1,230 1,185 96.5 45 3.5 
			 Malawi 1,505 1,225 81.3 280 18.7 
			 Malaysia 3,460 3,000 86.8 455 13.2 
			 Mauritius 4,930 4,075 82.6 860 17.4 
			 Mexico 420 395 93.1 30 6.9 
			 Moldova 195 190 96.4 5 3.6 
			 Mongolia 370 365 97.8 10 2.2 
			 Myanmar 895 870 97.4 25 2.6 
			 Namibia 890 750 84.3 140 15.7 
			 Nepal 1,375 1,335 96.9 40 3.1 
			 Nigeria 8,045 7,680 95.4 370 4.6 
			 Pakistan 14,030 13,750 98.0 280 2.0 
			 Peru 230 220 94.0 15 6.0 
			 Philippines 315 280 88.6 35 11.4 
			 Romania 170 155 90.6 15 9.4 
			 Russia 1,220 1,200 98.3 20 1.7 
			 Saudi Arabia 680 675 98.7 10 1.3 
			 Sierra Leone 585 525 90.1 60 9.9 
			 Singapore 165 155 94.5 10 5.5 
			 South Africa 3,305 2,735 82.8 570 17.2 
			 Sri Lanka 3,125 2,965 94.9 160 5.1 
			 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 135 110 82.4 25 17.6 
			 St. Lucia 265 230 87.8 30 12.2 
			 Sudan 150 145 95.3 5 4.7 
			 Syria 665 650 97.4 15 2.6 
			 Taiwan 1,220 1,205 98.8 15 1.2 
			 Tanzania 1,010 925 91.8 85 8.2 
			 Thailand 1,855 1,825 98.3 30 1.7 
			 Trinidad And Tobago 600 495 82.3 105 17.7 
			 Turkey 2,600 2,545 98.0 50 2.0 
			 Turkmenistan 315 300 96.2 10 3.8 
			 Uganda 1,755 1,630 92.9 125 7.1 
			 Ukraine 815 775 95.3 40 4.7 
			 United States of America 755 720 95.1 35 4.9 
			 Uzbekistan 1,100 1,080 98.2 20 1.8 
			 Venezuela 400 360 90.3 40 9.7 
			 Vietnam 480 470 98.3 10 1.7 
			 Yemen 140 135 96.4 5 3.6 
			 Zambia 695 620 89.0 75 11.0 
			 Zimbabwe 3,445 2,890 83.9 555 16.1 
			 Others(3) 2,415 2,220 92.0 190 8.0 
			 All nationalities 142,115 134,240 94.5 7,875 5.5 
			 (1) Excludes dependants of principal applicant and withdrawn applications. (2) Provisional and subject to change. (3) Those countries of nationality showing less than 100 decisions.  Note: Data rounded to the nearest five, therefore the figures may not sum to the totals shown.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Ashford of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 638, from which colleges and universities the Borders and Immigration Agency and its predecessor requested details of  (a) non-attendance by overseas students and  (b) the number of students not attending; and how many students (i) had their visas revoked and (ii) were deported from the United Kingdom as a result in each year since 2004.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency requested attendance records from 153 colleges and 48 universities since limited mandatory reporting was introduced in April 2007. Information on the number of people who have had their visas revoked as a result of such inquiries and who were subsequently deported could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records only at a disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: English Language

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to introduce a further English language requirement for  (a) non-UK nationals who wish to become UK citizens and  (b) work permit applicants seeking leave to enter the UK; and what level of proficiency will be required in any such requirements.

Liam Byrne: We set out in the Green Paper: 'The Path to Citizenship; Next Steps in Reforming the Immigration System' our proposals for migrants to earn citizenship, including the need to demonstrate a level of ability in English. We have also consulted on whether spouses seeking entry on marriage visas should demonstrate ability in English before coming to the UK. We will set out our response to these consultations shortly.
	We published a statement of intent 'Skilled Workers under the Points Based System (Tier 2)' in May setting out our plans for skilled workers to demonstrate English.

Essex Police Authority

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) other agencies have issued to Essex Police Authority in each of the last 10 years; how her Department monitors compliance with that guidance; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Eurojust

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK contributed to the operation of Eurojust in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Eurojust is financed from the general budget of the European Union, except for the salaries and overseas expenses entitlements of the National Members, Deputy National Members and Assistants of each national desk, which are borne by their member states.
	The breakdown of Government spending on the UK delegation over the last five years is as follows: 150,000 in 2004-05; 200,000 in 2005-06; 316,000 in 2006-07; 304,000 in 2007-08; and the estimate for 2008-09 is 308,000.

Family Intervention Projects

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families have been  (a) temporarily and  (b) permanently evicted from their homes under family intervention projects.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Evidence from a recently published evaluation shows the effectiveness of Family Intervention Projects in improving the lives of families involved in persistent antisocial behaviour. Families are usually facing eviction due to their antisocial behaviour when a project begins to work with them. One of the first tasks the projects undertake is to improve behaviour to stabilise a families' tenancy. The recent evaluation data show reductions in housing enforcement action, so in the majority of cases the project helps them stay in their home.
	We do not collect data on the number of families evicted from their homes (either permanently or temporarily) white a Family Intervention Project works with them. We know from contact with the projects, however, that eviction happens very rarely. A small minority of families (5 per cent. were identified in the recent evaluation) disengage from the projects and it is possible in a small number of these cases the LA would proceed with an eviction. But these are families who were facing eviction before they became involved with the Family Intervention Project.

Foreign Workers: Care Homes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the level of illegal working by foreign nationals in care homes; what reports she has received on this subject; and what steps her Department has taken to deal with such illegal working.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 April 2008
	 The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) carries out regular enforcement operations in the care home sector and has been building an intelligence picture on illegal employment in care homes based on regional and national reports. UKBA records show that over the last two years the agency has made 120 intelligence led visits and arrested 112 suspected illegal immigrants.
	The data provided are management information. They may be subject to change and do not represent published national statistics.
	The agency is working with the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate, Criminal Records Bureau and Department of Health to develop an action plan that will enable us to provide additional support to those seeking help in ensuring they only employ those with a right to work and allow us to take effective targeted enforcement and prosecution activity whilst ensuring those in receipt of care are not placed at risk. Further details will be published in due course.

Forensic Science Service: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what area and population the Forensic Science Service laboratories at Chorley cover.

Meg Hillier: Forensic Science Service Ltd.'s (FSS) Chorley laboratory is one of the FSS' regional operational facilities, contributing to the FSS' delivery of forensic science services to the police forces of England and Wales and other law enforcement authorities. The FSS does not hold any data relating to the general population statistics for the Chorley region.

Forensic Science Service: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding will be allocated to the Forensic Science Service laboratories in Chorley in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The Forensic Science Service is now a Companies Act limited company. This is a managerial decision and the responsibility of the board of the company.

Genetics: Cross Border Co-operation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 998W, on genetics: cross border co-operation, how the estimated implementation cost of 31 million breaks down between budget headings.

Jacqui Smith: The Prm Implementing Agreement and Technical Annex were formally adopted on 23 June under the Slovenian presidency. A high level meeting with stakeholders across Whitehall met on 4 July to discuss UK implementation of the Prm Council Decision pending publication. One of the actions arising was the commissioning of a detailed scoping study to identify solutions which will help establish a breakdown of costs.

Genetics: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples on the DNA database are from children currently under the age of 18 years who have not been charged or cautioned with an offence.

Meg Hillier: Data on young persons aged under 18 were obtained from the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the Police National Computer (PNC) on 9-10 April 2008. The NDNAD data indicate that, on 10 April 2008, there were 349,934 subject sample profiles relating to persons aged 10 to 17 on it. There are more profiles than individuals due to DNA samples being taken from some individuals on more than one occasion, that is, there is some duplicate sampling. It is estimated that the current rate of profile replication is about 13.3 per cent. Taking the replication rate into account, it is estimated that the 349,934 profiles are equivalent to 303,393 persons aged 10 to 17.
	Data obtained from the PNC on 9-10 April indicate that, of those estimated 303,393 persons, 264,297 (87.1 per cent.) had a conviction, caution, reprimand or had received a final warning and 39,095 (12.8 per cent.) had not been convicted, cautioned, received a final warning/reprimand and had no charge pending against them.

Genetics: Databases

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals in each police force area have records on the national DNA database.

Meg Hillier: The information requested is given in the table. The figures show the number of subject sample profiles retained on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) at 31 March 2008, which were taken by police forces in England and Wales. The number of subject profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. It is currently estimated that 13.3 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, that a profile for a person has been loaded on more than one occasion. The replication rate of 13.3 per cent. should, however, be applied only over the entire NDNAD, as the replication rate for individual police forces varies considerably. The table gives the number of subject profiles for each police force only, but gives a total estimated number of individuals for all English and Welsh police forces.
	
		
			  Force  Subject profiles 
			 Avon and Somerset 101,352 
			 Bedfordshire 45,460 
			 British Transport 45,455 
			 Cambridgeshire 53,796 
			 Cheshire 79,569 
			 City of London Police 23,013 
			 Cleveland 51,618 
			 Cumbria 44,632 
			 Derbyshire 87,379 
			 Devon and Cornwall 109,393 
			 Dorset 49,817 
			 Durham 52,359 
			 Dyfed-Powys 49,410 
			 Essex 124,403 
			 Gloucestershire 44,061 
			 Greater Manchester Police 244,975 
			 Gwent 51,730 
			 Hampshire 145,141 
			 Hertfordshire 73,823 
			 Humberside 82,241 
			 Kent 140,840 
			 Lancashire 141,859 
			 Leicestershire 66,912 
			 Lincolnshire 47,643 
			 Merseyside 129,261 
			 Metropolitan Police 810,134 
			 Norfolk 65,261 
			 North Wales 58,506 
			 North Yorkshire 56,198 
			 Northamptonshire 43,929 
			 Northumbria 166,358 
			 Nottinghamshire 97,853 
			 South Wales Constabulary 116,821 
			 South Yorkshire 117,769 
			 Staffordshire 96,357 
			 Suffolk 46,838 
			 Surrey 60,274 
			 Sussex 112,083 
			 Thames Valley 147,630 
			 Warwickshire 31,989 
			 West Mercia 76,227 
			 West Midlands 292,873 
			 West Yorkshire 215,675 
			 Wiltshire 49,310 
			 Total 4,748,227 
			 Estimated number of individuals 4,126,642

Genetics: Databases

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of maintaining the national DNA database has been in each year since its inception; and what it is estimated to be in 2008-09.

Meg Hillier: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) was established in 1995, when responsibility for the operational management of the NDNAD rested with the Forensic Science Service (FSS) on behalf of the Police Service. No central records of costs relating to the maintenance of the NDNAD are held prior to 2002, as cost data were incorporated in other costs incurred by the FSS.
	In December 2005, the FSS was vested as a Government owned company and the NDNAD transferred from the FSS to the Home Office. On 1 April 2007, the NDNAD transferred from the Home Office to the National Policing Improvement Agency.
	The costs relating to the maintenance of the NDNAD from 2002-08 and the estimated cost for 2008-09 are given in the following tables. The costs from 2006-07 are higher than for previous years, because of the complete separation of costs from the FSS, and because the increase in the number of forensic suppliers requires additional resources for accreditation and continuous monitoring.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 NDNAD Services costs 774,304 904,385 1,276,823 l,245,151 
			 Supplier Accreditation costs 320,507 388,047 433,828 459,192 
			 Total l,094,811 l,292,432 1,710,651 1,704,343 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 NDNAD Service delivery including delivery of IT Development projects 2,041,743 1,600,087 1,770,000 
			 Custodian Accreditation 527,677 574,817 750,000 
			 Total 2,569,420 2,174,904 2,520,000 
			 (1) Estimate.

Hezbollah

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the proposed proscription of the military wing at Hezbollah, including the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it, including the Hezbollah External Security Organisation, which elements proposed for proscription are not covered by the existing proscription; and what assessment she has carried out of the differences between the level of threat under  (a) the existing and  (b) the proposed proscriptions.

Jacqui Smith: The Hezbollah External Security Organisation, a unit of Hezbollah's military wing, was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in February 2001 because of its involvement in terrorism outside of Lebanon. No other part of Hezbollah was proscribed at that time.
	We now have evidence that further parts of the military wing are directly concerned in terrorism, including providing support for Shia militant groups in Iraq who have been responsible for attacks both on Iraqi civilians and coalition forces, and for Palestinian rejectionist groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2008 therefore proscribes the entirety of Hezbollah's military wing in addition to the External Security Organisation.

Human Trafficking: Arrests

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of each nationality were arrested during Operation Pentameter II.

Vernon Coaker: The verification of the details of those arrested under Operation Pentameter 2 is being taken forward by the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre as part of its analysis of the operation.

Hunting Act 2004

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training on the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004 the police receive.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 Training given to police officers on the provisions of the Hunting Act is an operational matter for Chief Officers. The police have made it clear that they will enforce the hunting ban and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued guidance for police forces on the practical aspects of enforcing the Hunting Act in 2005. ACPO are currently doing further work to draw out and disseminate best practice on enforcement of the Hunting Act across the police service ahead of the start of the next hunting season.

Identity Cards

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultation meetings the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Identity has held on identity cards in the last six months; whether  (a) these meetings were open to the public and  (b) minutes were taken; where these events took place; where future meetings are planned to take place; which organisations and individuals attended each meeting; what form and agenda the meetings took; and what the cost to the public purse has been of this exercise.

Meg Hillier: Over the past six months I have hosted 11 events throughout United Kingdom, including London, Wales and Scotland. These events were held with key stakeholders representing the public, private and third sectors. The meetings were not open to the general public.
	The format includes a presentation about the National Identity Scheme and a question and answer session with the stakeholders. Stakeholders are then invited to comment on the consultation points in the plan on the day or in writing at a later point. Officials note key points made and will publish a summary report of feedback in the autumn of 2008.
	In line with the Data Protection Act, I cannot share the names of organisations or the individuals who attended each event. With consent from stakeholders, we will list organisations and individuals who attended the event in the published response.
	To date, the total cost is 32,750 which includes venues, audio visual equipment and refreshments.
	The schedule of future consultation events has yet to be finalised.

Identity Cards: Finance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the funding allocation to projects common to both the identity card and the passport elements of the identity card scheme rose from 63 million in the November 2007 cost report to 275 million in the May 2008 cost report; and what percentage of the cost of the identity card scheme is associated with the minimum necessary upgrade for introducing biometric passports.

Meg Hillier: The Cost Report has set out those elements of the cost estimates that relate specifically to passports, those cost estimates specific to identity cards, and those cost estimates that are common to both. The cost of registering individuals for passports and ID cards is included in common costs because the same technology infrastructure and business processes will be used. In many cases, the same application will result in the issue of both a passport and an ID card.
	The May 2008 Cost Report is based upon the roll-out and phasing of the 2008 Delivery Plan, whereas the November 2007 Cost Report is based upon the 2006 Strategic Action Plan. Therefore, the two reports are not directly comparable.
	The estimated common costs are based upon a scale of operation that is delivering volumes of passports and identity cards. It would involve significant nugatory effort to define a split between these costs and it would be a largely theoretical exercise as current plans are for an integrated infrastructure. As such, it is not possible to identify the percentage of the cost of the identity card scheme that are associated with the minimum necessary upgrade for introducing biometric passports.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many identity cards she estimates will be issued to foreign nationals in the first 12 months after their introduction;
	(2)  how many identity cards she estimates will be issued to foreign nationals in the first 12 months of the scheme's operation, broken down by type of visa giving entry to the UK.

Jacqui Smith: We expect to issue around 50,000 cards from November 2008 to April 2009 but this depends on volumes applying within the selected categories. Volumes will rise rapidly thereafter and will depend on the speed of implementation and the nature of the immigration categories brought into the scheme.
	The issuing of cards is not correlated with the types of visas issued; this is because foreign nationals may be granted leave to remain in another category to their grant of entry.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1040, which constabularies have immigration crime partnerships; and what funding her Department has made available for them.

Liam Byrne: The following constabularies have partnership agreements in place with UKBA (85 per cent.):
	Strathclyde, Grampian, Lothian and Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Greater Manchester Police, Cheshire, Lancashire, Gwent, South Wales, Dyfed Powys, North Wales, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Cleveland, Durham, Humberside, North Yorkshire, Northumbria, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Thames Valley Hampshire.
	It is intended that, by the end of 2008, all regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have Immigration Crime Teams (ICT) in operation. It is also anticipated that Scottish police forces will also have a fully developed ICT in operation by the end of the year. UKBA has allocated 18 million to fund the partnership with the police service.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on-the-spot fines have been imposed on employers using illegal immigrant labour since February.

Liam Byrne: Since the introduction of the new legislation on 29 February 2008, the United Kingdom Border Agency had served 221 Notifications of Liability for a Civil Penalty on employers of illegal migrant workers. This figure represents all Notifications served as of 6 June 2008.
	This information is derived from provisional local management information which may be subject to change.

Imitation Guns

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce the availability and use of replica firearms.

Vernon Coaker: The Government recognise the importance of reducing the availability and use of replica firearms. That is why the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which came into force during 2007, banned the sale, importation and manufacture of realistic imitation firearms.
	We set up the Tackling Gangs Action Programme (TGAP) in September 2007 to tackle gangs in the four cities most affected by gun crime (Birmingham, Liverpool, London and Manchester). A TGAP day of action on 17 November 2007 resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 imitation firearms. In addition, 10 real firearms were seized and 124 arrests made. We are building on the work of the TGAP and continue to work with partners to further reduce the supply of firearms.

Immigration

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times passenger queues at Heathrow Airport incoming immigration security checks have exceeded the designated maximum 10 minute waiting period in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency recognises that it has a responsibility to process genuine passengers without delay but the safety and security of the public remains a priority.
	There are arrangements in place at most ports to benchmark performance. Heathrow Airport is among those airports that are currently using a 45 minutes (non-EEA) and 25 minutes (EEA) queuing time as such a benchmark. This is the maximum wait time in which we aim to process passengers and in turn informs staff deployment as well as informing considerations on further investment.
	We are clear that the averages are well within these benchmarks but we will continue to work on reducing the occasions where those figures are exceeded.
	
		
			  Queuing times at London Heathrow from August 2007 until 11 July 2008 
			  Non-EEA  Minutes/Percentage 
			 Average queue length 12 minutes 
			 Per cent. over benchmark 2 per cent.160 out of 6,658 measures 
			   
			  EEA  
			 Average queue length 5 minutes 
			 Per cent. over benchmark 1 per cent.43 out of 5,977 measures

Immigration

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations she has received on the proposed withdrawal of the patrial concession which allows non-UK citizens to stay and work here if a parent or grandparent was born in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We published the Green Paper 'The Path to Citizenship: next steps in reforming the immigration system' in February in which we asked for public views on whether the UK Ancestry route should be retained. We received 529 responses to this individual proposal.
	The consultation period ended on 14 May and we published the Government's response document on 14 July. Having carefully considered this proposal we believe it is right to retain a route to citizenship based on UK Ancestry.

Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects a decision to be made on the immigration status of Mr Rajwant Karr (Ref 1583563).

Liam Byrne: A decision on Mr. Karr's application for an entry clearance was made on 6 June.
	Our high commission in New Delhi, which had referred the application to the UK for advice, were informed the same day. The decision was resent to the high commission on 21 July when it was realised that it had not been received originally.

Immigration Controls

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will liaise with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to ensure that data stored by higher education institutions is compliant with, and accessible by, those operating the UK Border Agency database on introduction of Tier 4 of the new immigration system.

Liam Byrne: The points-based system (PBS) requires all sponsors, including higher education institutions, to keep accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive data on the migrants they are sponsoring. To help sponsors meet this requirement, UK Border Agency (UKBA) is committed to working with key stakeholders to develop suitable IT and data capture arrangements.
	We will involve representative higher education institutions and others in the elaboration of our IT requirements with our chosen supplier. This will ensure that the sector's existing systems and the exchange of data will be compatible with those of the UKBA.

Immigration Controls: Business

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses had applied for licences to sponsor foreign migrants under the points-based system by 30 June 2008.

Liam Byrne: The number of businesses which have applied for licences to sponsor foreign migrants under the points-based system is 210. This figure is rounded to the nearest five.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Immigration Officers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on immigration officers have occurred in the course of their duties in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The figures for the number of immigration officers who have been assaulted while on duty for the last five calendar years and 2008 are shown in the following table. The following data have been obtained from the UKBA Accident Reporting Database which records all accidents and other health and other safety related incidents.
	
		
			   Physical assaults  Verbal abuse 
			 2003 10 45 
			 2004 19 112 
			 2005 12 134 
			 2006 8 82 
			 2007 8 108 
			 2008 20 18 
		
	
	Figures for 2003-07 have been provided previously in response to PQ 193127 which is given above but additionally includes figures from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008.

Immigration Officers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers were assaulted while on duty in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The figures for the number of immigration officers who have been assaulted while on duty for the last five calendar years are shown in the following table. The data have been obtained from the BIA Accident Reporting Database which records all accidents and other health and other safety related incidents.
	
		
			   Physical assaults  Verbal abuse 
			 2003 10 45 
			 2004 19 112 
			 2005 12 134 
			 2006 8 82 
			 2007 8 108

Immigration: Detainees

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent, including on legal fees and compensation, in connection with the recent settlement of the case of the detainee who suffered a mental breakdown while at Yarl's Wood Detention and Removal Centre during 2005, the subject of previous correspondence with the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 18 July 2008.

Immigration: Manpower

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there were for employing a person aged 16 years and above subject to immigration control contrary to sections (8) and (6) of the Asylum and Immigration Control in each quarter since 1 January 2002.

Liam Byrne: The latest information on persons proceeded against and found guilty of offences under Immigration Acts in England and Wales in each year from 2003 to 2007 will be available from Table 6.7 of the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2007 publication on 21 August 2008; information for 2006 and 2007 will be provisional. Information relating to 2002 has been published in Table 7.5 of the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2002 publication.
	Copies of the 2002 publication are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	Copies of the 2007 publication will be available from 21 August 2008.
	The UK Border Agency have implemented measures contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal migrant working, which provide a wider and more effective range of tools with which to tackle non-compliance. The 2006 Act introduced a system of civil penalties for employers who employ illegal migrants through less than diligent practices, alongside a tough new offence for those who knowingly employ illegal migrants, which will carry a maximum two year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine. These new measures came into force on 29 February 2008.

Immigration: Skilled Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of migrants on the highly skilled migrant programme given the right to remain in the UK following the High Court decision of 8 April 2008; how many migrants were subject to the points requirements dealt with in that decision; how many of them had had their cases considered; how many failed the requirement; and if she will give a breakdown by nationality of  (a) those subject to the requirement,  (b) those whose cases have already been considered and  (c) those who have failed.

Liam Byrne: h olding answer 24 April 2008
	We estimate that the judgment will affect some 1,300 people.

Immigration: Tribunals

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many presenting officers for asylum and immigration tribunal cases were employed by her Department on 1st April 2008.

Liam Byrne: On 1 April 2008 the Home Department employed the full-time equivalent of 271.5 presenting officers for Asylum and Immigration Tribunal cases.

Independent Police Complaints Commission: Complaints

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body handles complaints against the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is an independent body. All complaints against the IPCC are initially managed internally. Any further complaint or challenge to a decision must be made through a court of law.

Members: Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State will reply to the hon. Member for Spelthorne's letter of 13 May 2008, on the planning application to convert 203-211 London Road, Staines into an administration and interview centre for the UK Border Agency.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 23 July 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 22 May 2008 from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, regarding Amadou Wuri Jallow, Home Office reference J1162190, acknowledgement reference B18399/8.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency wrote to my right hon. Friend on 21 July 2008.

Metropolitan Police: Forensic Science

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the future role of forensic medical examiners in the Metropolitan Police; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The future role of forensic medical examiners in the Metropolitan Police is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

National Identity Scheme Commissioner: Finance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget for the Office of the National Identity Scheme Commissioner will be in each of the first three years of its operation.

Meg Hillier: The National Identity Scheme Commissioner, a key independent role established under the Identity Cards Act 2006, will provide oversight of the operations of those parts of the scheme defined in the Act and will report at least annually on his or her findings.
	The precise definition of the role of his or her office is still being finalised and, as a result, the budget has yet to be finalised.

Offences Against Children: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the trends in the number of prosecutions for possession of child abuse images arising from  (a) websites and  (b) peer to peer networks.

Vernon Coaker: The number of prosecutions for possession of child abuse images does not indicate the method used to obtain those images.
	However the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP) have observed that in the past year the use of peer to peer networks by offenders to share and distribute images of child abuse has increased. Other more traditional methods of obtaining such images, including downloading from websites, are still continued to be used by offenders.
	The Government are committed to the removal of all images containing child abuse images from the internet. We work closely with CEOP, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and industry in order to achieve this.

Offenders: Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign offenders who received a community sentence were  (a) deported and  (b) subject to administrative removal in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual casefiles at disproportionate cost. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency advised the Home Affairs Committee during her appearance of 15 January that, in most cases involving community sentences, the Agency would look to use administrative removal as the method of expulsion rather than deportation.

Offensive Weapons

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government plans to take to assist local communities to reduce knife crime.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 July 2008
	The Government take the problem of knife crime seriously and we are using a variety of measures encompassing legislation, enforcement, education and prevention to address it.
	The Home Secretary announced on 13 July tough measures to deal with those involved in knife crime through greater police enforcement, targeted action and earlier intervention and support for parents. These new measures complement the Government's launch of the new 100 million Youth Crime Action Plan. The clampdown on knives reflects a triple-track approach of tough enforcement, intensive support and better prevention.
	The Tackling Knives Action Programme is a targeted approach to addressing knife crime in specific areas: Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands police, Greater Manchester police, Merseyside police, Lancashire police, Essex police, West Yorkshire, Thames Valley police, Nottinghamshire police and South Wales police. The programme will build upon the Tackling Gangs Action Programme that helped deliver a 50 per cent. reduction in gun injuries in hotspot areas in four areas across the country. The Government have asked Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, the ACPO lead on knives, to take on the role of head of the Tackling Knives Action Programme alongside his existing role as Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
	This programme will include youth forums to encourage young people to stay on the right track in the first place; knife referral projects to ensure that people convicted of carrying a knife are confronted with the dangers of carrying knives; support for parents who are concerned about their children carrying knives by encouraging them to call parenting organisations such as 'Parentline Plus' to receive confidential advice; encouraging local authorities to provide Safer School Partnership officers to any school that needs one; Trading Standards prioritising test purchasing for the underage sales of knives; working with the Department of Health and local health partners to see what more we can do on knife crime in hotspot areas and supporting licensing authorities to crack down heavily on any establishment that allows underage drinking.

Offensive Weapons

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of  (a) possessing a bladed article,  (b) possessing an offensive weapon,  (c) robbery involving the use of a knife,  (d) wounding with intent involving the use of a knife,  (e) causing grievous bodily harm involving the use of a knife,  (f) attempted murder involving the use of a knife and  (g) homicide involving use of a knife were committed per 100,000 people in each (i) London borough and (ii) police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	Information on  (a) possessing a bladed article has not previously been available centrally. From April 2008, police forces have been using a new classification for possession of article with blade or point. Figures for 2008-09 are due to be published in July 2009. The  (b) possession of offensive weapons can be recorded by the police in more than one offence category, so definitive figures cannot be given. Ministry of Justice collates figures for convictions of knife possession.
	Statistics on certain serious violent offences involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument have been collected since April 2007. Figures are available for 2007-08. These offences include  (c) robbery,  (d) wounding with intent to do GBH,  (e) wounding or inflicting GBH (i.e. without intent) and  (f) attempted murder. These figures are at the police force area level.
	Homicide data using a knife or sharp instrument are given in the following table. Figures are shown as per million population due to the low figures reported. The latest available figures are for 2006-07. Data for 2007-08 are scheduled for publication in January 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: Sharp instrument offences per 100,000 population in each police force area for selected offences for 2007-08 
			  Police force area  Attempted murder  Wounding with intent to do GBH  Wounding or inflicting GBH  Robbery of personal property 
			 Avon and Somerset 0.19 5.45 1.73 14.61 
			 Bedfordshire 0.68 11.34 2.37 33.69 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.40 2.79 2.13 6.11 
			 Cheshire 0.10 6.40 2.60 6.50 
			 Cleveland 0.72 13.62 3.05 10.03 
			 Cumbria 0.40 4.03 7.05 2.02 
			 Derbyshire 0.20 4.95 2.83 8.48 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0.30 7.70 2.73 4.73 
			 Dorset 0.00 2.85 1.57 1.85 
			 Durham 0.33 8.83 1.33 2.83 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0.60 6.16 6.16 1.19 
			 Essex 0.36 5.33 0.60 9.22 
			 Gloucestershire 0.17 2.59 0.69 8.81 
			 Greater Manchester 0.78 23.49 12.33 38.61 
			 Gwent 0.18 14.11 1.43 5.72 
			 Hampshire 0.38 4.81 5.90 8.31 
			 Hertfordshire 0.76 4.35 3.31 10.58 
			 Humberside 0.22 6.08 3.76 16.24 
			 Kent 0.61 5.75 1.96 9.05 
			 Lancashire 0.55 9.52 3.17 8.83 
			 Leicestershire 0.52 10.28 2.60 15.47 
			 Lincolnshire 0.00 4.23 1.31 3.21 
			 Merseyside 0.22 23.05 3.84 17.51 
			 Metropolitan Police and City of London(1) 0.80 11.73 11.59 66.60 
			 Norfolk 0.12 2.64 1.56 2.88 
			 North Wales 0.15 8.29 3.70 3.85 
			 North Yorkshire 0.13 2.68 0.51 3.57 
			 Northamptonshire 0.45 12.40 1.49 15.09 
			 Northumbria 0.07 10.02 4.58 7.23 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.47 11.56 2.56 32.02 
			 South Wales 0.00 27.14 3.75 14.43 
			 South Yorkshire 0.46 8.59 3.33 13.61 
			 Staffordshire 0.09 3.20 7.06 6.87 
			 Suffolk 0.28 4.70 5.98 4.27 
			 Surrey 0.55 2.30 1.66 3.32 
			 Sussex 0,13 4.06 5.50 6.48 
			 Thames Valley 0.42 2.92 1.39 8.33 
			 Warwickshire 0.38 7.85 2.68 13.79 
			 West Mercia 0.08 3.64 1.69 5.16 
			 West Midlands 0.54 21.58 14.23 44.85 
			 West Yorkshire 0.46 14.16 3.47 19.02 
			 Wiltshire 0.94 6.77 2.68 8.18 
			  
			 England and Wales 0.43 9.77 5.18 21.46 
			 (1) Metropolitan and City of London have been merged. The low resident population in the City of London means that per population rates are not useful for comparison purposes. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Sharp instrument homicides recorded by the police in England and Wales: 1997-982006-07( 1) , per one million population 
			  Police force area  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 2.0 3.4 3.4 2.0 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.7 1.3 2.0 
			 Bedfordshire 5.5 3.6 1.8 3.6 12.4 1.8 1.8 7.0 5.2 5.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1.4 1.4 5.6 (2) 1.4 2.8 7.0 1.4 2.7 2.7 
			 Cheshire 3.1 3.1 (2) (2) 3.0 2.0 5.1 3.0 7.0 3.0 
			 Cleveland 1.8 1.8 5.4 9.0 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.4 
			 Cumbria 6.1 2.0 10.1 6.1 2.0 4.1 2.0 2.0 (2) (2) 
			 Derbyshire 2.1 1.0 2.1 1.0 4.1 2.1 3.1 2.0 2.0 3.1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 5.2 3.9 0.6 3.2 3.8 1.3 1.9 6.2 3.1 3.1 
			 Dorset 1.5 1.5 1.4 4.3 (2) 4.3 8.6 (2) (2) 2.8 
			 Durham 4.9 3.3 (2) 1.6 3.3 5.1 (2) 3.4 5.0 8.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys (2) 4.2 (2) 2.1 (2) 6.1 (2) (2) 4.0 2.0 
			 Essex 0.7 3.3 5.9 1.2 6.1 4.3 3.1 (2) 3.7 5.5 
			 Gloucestershire 1.8 1.8 5.4 (2) 5.3 5.3 3.5 3.5 (2) 3.5 
			 Greater Manchester 6.2 5.4 3.9 5.4 8.9 7.7 6.8 5.9 4.3 4.7 
			 Gwent (2) 1.8 1.8 3.6 3.6 3.6 (2) 7.2 1.8 3.6 
			 Hampshire 0.6 1.7 2.8 2.2 3.9 5.1 1.7 3.9 2.2 3.9 
			 Hertfordshire 2.3 1.1 5.7 3.8 2.9 3.9 3.9 4.8 2.9 5.7 
			 Humberside 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 3.4 5.8 9.2 3.4 1.1 7.9 
			 Kent 4.5 1.9 5.1 2.5 6.3 3.8 2.5 2.5 4.3 3.7 
			 Lancashire 4.2 1.4 0.7 10.5 2.8 7.1 8.4 7.7 0.7 2.8 
			 Leicestershire 1.1 1.1 (2) 4.3 2.1 4.3 9.6 3.2 3.2 5.2 
			 Lincolnshire (2) 1.6 3.2 (2) 1.6 3.1 3.0 (2) (2) 4.4 
			 Merseyside 5.6 7.8 4.3 9.3 2.1 8.8 7.3 10.3 7.3 7.3 
			 Metropolitan Police and City of London(3) 8.2 6.8 8.8 9.5 9.2 9.5 8.3 8.4 7.5 9.2 
			 Norfolk (2) 6.4 2.5 5.0 1.2 (2) 3.7 1.2 1.2 3.6 
			 North Wales 3.0 (2) 3.0 1.5 3.0 6.0 (2) 7.5 3.0 1.5 
			 North Yorkshire 1.4 (2) 1.3 (2) (2) (2) 1.3 4.0 2.6 (2) 
			 Northamptonshire 3.3 3.3 1.6 4.8 4.8 7.9 1.6 (2) 9.3 9.2 
			 Northumbria 7.7 3.5 6.3 3.5 2.8 5.8 5.8 4.3 5.0 7.1 
			 Nottinghamshire 2.9 5.8 4.8 3.9 5.8 3.0 5.9 5.8 6.8 6.7 
			 South Wales 7.3 7.3 4.8 2.4 8.0 0.8 2.5 3.3 1.6 5.7 
			 South Yorkshire 1.5 2.3 3.1 3.1 4.6 5.5 1.6 5.5 4.7 2.3 
			 Staffordshire 3.8 3.8 1.9 (2) 0.9 (2) 2.9 2.9 1.9 4.7 
			 Suffolk (2) (2) (2) 4.4 2.9 (2) 3.0 2.9 4.4 2.S 
			 Surrey 1.3 1.3 1.3 0.9 1.9 0.9 0.9 3.8 2.8 (2) 
			 Sussex 2.7 2.7 3.3 3.3 3.9 6.0 2.0 6.0 2.6 1.3 
			 Thames Valley 3.4 3.4 3.8 1.4 4.2 6.2 1.4 2.8 3.3 2.8 
			 Warwickshire (2) 4.0 2.0 (2) 2.0 4.0 3.9 5.8 1.9 9.4 
			 West Mercia 2.7 2.7 0.9 2.6 4.4 1.7 4.3 2.6 (2) 2.5 
			 West Midlands 1.5 6.1 5.7 3.4 7.3 6.7 8.5 8.1 8.5 5.8 
			 West Yorkshire 5.7 5.7 3.3 3.8 5.2 6.3 3.4 6.2 5.2 4.7 
			 Wiltshire 3.4 (2) 1.7 (2) 4.9 3.3 3.2 4.8 1.6 1.6 
			
			 England and Wales 3.9 3.8 4.1 4.0 4.9 5.1 4.6 4.9 4.1 4.9 
			 (1) Homicides currently recorded by the police, as at 12 November 2007, excluding cases where all suspects were acquitted or convicted of lesser offences by that date. The England and Wales totals are as published by the Home Office in January 2008 in 'Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2006-07'. Figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. Figures for 2007-08 will be published in January 2009. (2) No sharp instrument homicides for given year. (3) Metropolitan and City of London have been merged. The low resident population in the City of London means that per population rates are not useful for comparison purposes.

Offensive Weapons: Amnesties

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives have been recovered in knife amnesty initiatives in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force area in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not collect centrally information on knife amnesty initiatives led by local police forces.
	A national knife amnesty, which ran from 24 May 2006 to 30 June 2006, encouraged people to dispose of knives and other weapons in secure bins at police stations throughout England and Wales. A total of 89,964 knives were handed over during the programme, according to figures compiled by forces in England and Wales. A table of returns from each force follows.
	
		
			  Knife amnestytotal items surrendered 24 May-30 June 2006 
			  Force  Domestic  Non Dom  Weapons  Of interest  Total 
			 Avon Somerset 1,510 634 129 69 2,342 
			 Bedfordshire 503 172 45 42 762 
			 Cambridgeshire 982 188 465 0 1,635 
			 Cheshire 1,241 457 287 55 2,040 
			 City of London 38 0 4 18 60 
			 Cleveland 729 224 159 41 1,153 
			 Cumbria 1,082 146 46 27 1,301 
			 Derbyshire 2,257 91 623 24 2,995 
			 Dorset 1,029 275 186 8 1,498 
			 Durham 593 326 124 19 1,062 
			 Dyfed Powys 470 188 121 14 793 
			 Devon Cornwall 2,626 601 375 150 3,752 
			 Essex 1,517 446 209 51 2,223 
			 Gloucestershire 702 309 50 0 1,061 
			 GMP 1,172 403 276 14 1,865 
			 Gwent 1,263 419 187 67 1,936 
			 Hampshire 3,209 841 529 57 4,636 
			 Herts 1,659 493 20 22 2,194 
			 Humberside 877 152 261 23 1,313 
			 Kent 2,603 704 421 0 3,807 
			 Lancashire 948 389 187 1 1,525 
			 Leicestershire 950 158 62 0 1,170 
			 Lincs 731 422 260 35 1,448 
			 Merseyside 1,142 630 33 0 1,888 
			 Met(1) 0 0 0 0 9,145 
			 Norfolk(2) (383) (104) (18) (5) 1,723 
			 North Wales 1,152 392 177 10 1,731 
			 North Yorkshire 940 285 346 53 1,624 
			 Northants 1,312 174 140 0 1,626 
			 Northumbria 1,576 667 306 57 2,606 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,086 419 127 17 1,649 
			 South Wales 1,351 505 143 23 2,022 
			 South Yorks 1,143 68 379 42 1,631 
			 Staffordshire 1,200 524 222 64 2,010 
			 Suffolk 975 298 171 0 1,444 
			 Surrey 959 252 89 11 1,311 
			 Sussex 2,479 936 253 89 3,757 
			 Thames Valley 2,475 1,235 620 0 4,330 
			 Warwickshire 494 179 147 36 856 
			 West Mercia 1,523 440 164 0 2,127 
			 West Midlands 1,979 298 510 451 3,238 
			 West Yorkshire 851 332 175 17 1,375 
			 Wiltshire 894 177 120 9 1,200 
			 Total(3) 52,222 16,595 9,148 1,658 89,864 
			 (1) MPS has supplied a total figure only. (2) Breakdown figures for Norfolk relate to items surrendered in first week only. (3) Breakdown figures do not equal final total due to footnote 2. 
		
	
	continued

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) persons and  (b) persons aged under 18 years have been convicted of an offence of possessing an offensive weapon in the form of a knife or bladed instrument since 1 April 2007; and how many have (i) received a custodial sentence and (ii) received a custodial sentence of two years or more, broken down by region.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 17 July 2008
	 Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in autumn 2008.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have passed through search arches erected under Operation Blunt in each month since the scheme was initiated.

Vernon Coaker: To date no data are available on the numbers of people passing through such arches but monitoring of numbers, age and ethnicity is in place and data will be released at a later stage.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been found to be carrying a knife through the use of search arches under Operation Blunt in each month since the scheme became operational, broken down by  (a) age,  (b) gender and  (c) ethnic background.

Vernon Coaker: These data are not currently available in relation to search arches.
	Search arches have been deployed as part of search operations for a number of years in London. Since late 2006, this technology has been used more extensively as part of public place search operations, often in relation to the public transport system. From 13 May 2008, search operations involving the use of screening arches have been increased under Operation Blunt 2. To date no data are available about the numbers of people passing through such arches but monitoring of numbers, age and ethnicity is in place and data will be released at a later stage.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many search arches have been erected in  (a) schools,  (b) colleges,  (c) shopping centres,  (d) transport hubs and  (e) other locations under Operation Blunt in each month since the scheme was initiated; and how many knives have been discovered at each search point.

Vernon Coaker: Search arches have been deployed on some 305 occasions in London since the commencement of Operation Blunt 2 on 13 May 2008. Further data relating to the precise location of deployment are not available.

Offensive Weapons: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were reported in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: It is not possible to identify those offences that are knife-related from the data centrally collected on overall recorded crime. However, since April 2007, police forces have been providing separate aggregate data on serious violence (attempted murder, GBH and robbery) involving knives and sharp instruments. North Yorkshire police recorded 66 such offences during 2007-08.
	Available data from the Homicide Index relate to offences currently recorded as homicide where the apparent method of killing was 'sharp instrument', as at 12 November 2007. The number of such offences recorded by North Yorkshire police each year between 2002-03 and 2006-07 is given in the following table. Figures for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) : North Yorkshire police, 2002-03 to 2006-07( 3, 4) 
			  Year offence initially recorded( 3)  Number 
			 2002-03 0 
			 2003-04 1 
			 2004-05 3 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 0 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Homicides involving any sharp instrument, including knives. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published.

Offensive Weapons: Sales

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent representations she has received on the feasibility of restricting or controlling the sale of knives; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans her Department has for consultations on the restriction or control of the sale of knives; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are committed to working with and listening to the representations from the public, community groups and law enforcement partners to tackle knife crime. The Government have taken measures to restrict and control the sale of knives. In the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 the Government made it illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18, and in April 2006, following a public consultation on offensive weapons, samurai swords were added to the 18 items on the Offensive Weapons Order which it is illegal to sell, hire, manufacture or import.
	The Government will continue to keep all legislation on the sale of knives under constant review.

Offensive Weapons: Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents involving a bladed weapon or firearm have been reported in schools in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Home Office is responsible for the recorded crime statistics which includes data on the number of knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the police for selected offences (since April 2007) and the numbers of firearms offences (excluding air weapons) since 1970. However, it is not possible to separately identify from these data whether an offence took place in a school.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons convicted of an offence of possessing a knife were dealt with by way of  (a) a discharge,  (b) a fine,  (c) a community sentence,  (d) a custodial sentence,  (e) a custodial sentence of six months or more and  (f) a custodial sentence of 12 months or more in (i) each of the last 10 years and (ii) each quarter in the last three years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The figures requested are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Persons sentenced( 1)  for possession of a knife( 2)  1996-2006 
			   Discharged  Fine  Community sentence  Fully suspended sentence  Immediate custody  Otherwise dealt with  Total Sentenced  Custodial Sentence six months or more( 3)  Custodial Sentence 12 months or more 
			 1997 992 1,181 759 9 375 44 3,360 34 17 
			 1998 1,084 1,187 925 16 550 42 3,804 67 19 
			 1999 958 1,032 970 7 536 61 3,564 48 11 
			 2000 912 996 1,080 14 506 54 3,562 69 27 
			 2001 1,030 1,164 1,509 8 592 61 4,364 82 24 
			 2002 1,166 1,356 1,954 14 773 63 5,326 114 27 
			 2003 1,237 1,289 2,033 16 761 63 5,399 136 46 
			 2004 1,281 1,148 2,565 21 815 78 5,908 147 44 
			 Quarter 1 324 313 580 5 208 19 1,449 44 15 
			 Quarter 2 330 293 635 2 174 23 1,457 36 12 
			 Quarter 3 327 285 625 7 206 17 1,467 31 10 
			 Quarter 4 300 257 725 7 227 19 1,535 36 7 
			 2005 1,050 953 2,832 113 970 84 6,002 136 35 
			 Quarter 1 264 256 722 7 228 22 1,499 36 6 
			 Quarter 2 261 237 714 15 256 24 1,507 39 16 
			 Quarter 3 272 244 702 34 239 21 1,512 33 6 
			 Quarter 4 253 216 694 57 247 17 1,484 28 7 
			 2006 907 691 3,007 552 1,075 102 6,334 193 43 
			 Quarter 1 286 220 751 90 275 23 1,645 54 9 
			 Quarter 2 225 166 779 116 273 25 1,584 49 12 
			 Quarter 3 198 150 754 175 289 22 1,588 51 11 
			 Quarter 4 198 155 723 171 238 32 1,517 39 11 
			 (1) Principal offence (2) Possession of a knife in a public place, and possession of a knife in a school (3) These figures include those persons sentenced for 12 months or more

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1-2, on sentencing guidelines, what the evidential basis was for her statement that someone is now three times more likely to end up in custody for possession of a knife.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 July 2008
	Figures show that in 1996, of 890 offenders sentenced for having an article with a blade or point in a public place, 56 received an immediate custodial sentence, comprising 6.3 per cent. In 2006, of 6,284 offenders sentenced, 1,070 received an immediate custodial sentence (17.0 per cent.): almost achieving a three-fold increase compared to 1996 figures.

Offensive Weapons: Young People

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account she took of academic research into the effects of Scared Straight programmes in formulating her policy that young people at risk of involvement in knife crime should visit convicted offenders in prison; what research papers on the subject her Department has evaluated; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The Government announced on 13 July new measures to tackle knife crime. Anyone under 16 years old convicted of possessing, but not using a knife, can expect to receive a warning coupled with referral to a knife education scheme to help them understand the dangers and consequences of carrying knives, and to reduce the chances of re-offending. These schemes for young people will make them understand the full consequences of their actions and will include weapons awareness sessions which provide detailed information on the risks and consequences of carrying knives; it may also include discussions with healthcare professionals and victims' organisations and offenders so that young people understand the full impact of carrying a knife and where it may lead.
	The Government are aware of research on the impact of programmes such as Scared Straight. We have made it clear that meetings with offenders form part of this wider programme.
	The Government are aware of research evidence on such programmes. This is based on a systematic review published by the Campbell Collaboration, by A. Petrosino, C. Turpin-Petrosino and J. Buehler (2003): Scared Straight and other juvenile awareness programmes for preventing juvenile delinquency. However, no UK evaluations were included in the Review.

Office of Surveillance Commissioners

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner has provided to local authorities on publishing inspection reports of the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner;
	(2)  if she will ensure that inspection reports of local authorities produced by the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner are published online.

Tony McNulty: Statutory responsibility for the oversight of covert surveillance lies with the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) which is independent of Government. The question of online or any other publishing of OSC inspection reports for individual public authorities is a matter for the chief surveillance commissioner. The Home Office has not issued any guidance on this matter.

Organised Crime: Eastern Europe

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of organised crime gangs from  (a) Poland,  (b) Romania and  (c) Bulgaria operating in England and Wales; what estimate she has made of the volume of criminal activity related to such gangs; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 197-98W, to the hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis).

Passports: Newport Gwent

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of Post Office deliveries have been diverted to other passport offices from the Newport office since January 2008.

Meg Hillier: As we do not hold that level of data on work transfers, we are unable to provide the percentage of Post Office deliveries that have been diverted to other passport offices from the Newport office.

Passports: Newport Gwent

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport requests were received by mail at the Newport passport office  (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the previous five years.

Meg Hillier: The postal intake for the Newport passport office (based on each of the financial years).
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007-08 913,067 
			 2006-07 1,025,485 
			 2005-06 1,140,169 
			 2004-05 1,028,610 
			 2003-04 1,053,958 
			 2002-03 1,036,400

Personation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take to reduce the incidence of offences related to identity fraud.

Meg Hillier: We are involved in a variety of activity to reduce the incidence of offences related to identity fraud, including through collaboration with public and private sector organisations.
	We have sought to ensure better co-ordination in prosecuting fraudsters. This has involved the establishment of a network of Single Points of Contact in all police forces and a range of Government Departments and agencies dealing with identity fraud investigations and prosecutions.
	Legislation has also been strengthened. Tougher criminal penalties have been introduced for driving licence and passport offences, alongside offences in the Identity Cards Act 2006 to target those who possess and use false identity documents and genuine documents belonging to someone else.
	More powers to share data to combat fraud have been enacted. Provisions in the Serious Crime Act 2007 allow for the targeted exchange of data between the public and private sector through an antifraud organisation to highlight potentially fraudulent applications for goods and services. Provisions in the Police and Justice Act 2006 allow for the release of information on the recently deceased to the private sector to help prevent those identities from being used by criminals.
	We have introduced systems to confirm the validity of UK passports presented to other organisations and interviews for first time passport applicants over 16 years old now take place to verify the identity of individuals.
	A leaflet and a websitewww.identitytheft.org.ukhelp to increase public awareness of the problem. The material advises on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity fraud, warning signs to look out for, and what someone should do if they do fall victim.
	We have signalled our commitment to tackle fraud with the allocation of 29 million in new money over three years to implement the recommendations of the Fraud Review. A new National Fraud Strategic Authority will drive forward a comprehensive strategy for tackling fraud, bringing together the Government, criminal justice practitioners, business and the public. The money will also fund a new national lead force role for the City of London police and a National Fraud Reporting Centre which will equip law enforcement agencies with a powerful intelligence tool and help form the basis of better prevention advice and alerts to fraud threats for business and the public.
	Finally, our plans for a National Identity Scheme will provide people with a highly secure means of protecting their identity and help citizens to prove their identities easily, quickly and with vastly improved security.

Photography: Regulation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will issue guidance to chief constables on the prior notification to the public of implementation of local restrictions on photography; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: No. Police officers have the discretion to ask people not to take photographs for public safety or security reasons but the taking of photographs in a public place is not subject to any rules or statute.

Police Stations: Courts

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations have virtual court facilities.

Tony McNulty: There are no active virtual court facilities in police stations at present.
	At the end of 2008 a project will start to provide virtual courts facilities to 15 pilot police custody units in central and south-east London. If successful, the project will be expanded.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England and Wales are expected to reach their 2008 targets for the number of police officers employed that are from an ethnic minority.

Tony McNulty: Around 20 forces are expected to reach their 2009 local targets. A 2008 target has not been set for forces.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average percentage of applicants for the role of sergeant in police forces was from ethnic minority candidates in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Applicants to the police service have to start as constables, and then officers achieve the grade of sergeant via promotion.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that police forces monitor the number of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds in their force.

Tony McNulty: As part of the Home Office Annual Data Requirement, police forces are required to record data on the number of officers broken down by ethnicity. Numbers are published annually in the Home Office Statistical bulletin and Home Secretary's Race Equality Employment Targets Report.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept by police forces in England and Wales on the  (a) number,  (b) distribution and  (c) specialism of ethnic minority police officers; and what procedures are in place to ensure adequate records are kept.

Tony McNulty: As part of the Home Office Annual Data Requirement, police forces record data on the number of officers broken down by ethnicity who are predominately involved in a particular function. These specialisms are based on the HMIC function list, which can be down loaded from:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/finance-and-business-planning/FLPdefinition.pdf
	Procedures relating to the adequacy of record keeping are an operational matter for individual chief constables and police authorities.

Police: Manpower

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the change in police numbers in each basic command unit over  (a) the last year and  (b) the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The number of police officers in each basic command unit has been centrally collected since 2002-03, and the number of police community support officers has been centrally collected since 2006-07; and this information has been published in the supplementary tables of the annual Police Service Strength, England and Wales statistical bulletin.
	Previous years supplementary tables are available online from the following links and are in the Library of the House.
	 31 March 2007
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1307add_tab.xls
	 31 March 2006
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1306add_tab.xls
	 31 March 2005
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1205add_tab.xls
	 31 March 2004
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb1304tabs.xls
	 31 March 2003
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb1103tabs.xls
	Over the year to 31 March 2007 there was an increase of 369 in the total number of police officers, and over the five years to 31 March 2007 there was an increase of 9,383 officers.

Police: Young People

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether  (a) police officers and  (b) youth participation officers are trained in interacting with young people when on the beat.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows:
	 (a) All police officers undertake training as part of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme; this includes training relating to interacting appropriately with all members of the community, including young people, for example to establish rapport, and/or to manage conflict. Subsequently, their interactions with members of the public, and appropriate use of police actions, are assessed against National Occupational and Professional Standards.
	 (b) The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Ministry of Justice have confirmed that some local authorities have established the post of youth participation officer to oversee the delivery of services for young people in their area. We would expect such professionals, or any other person appointed to work with young people, to have the appropriate range of skills for the post, including the ability to interact effectively with young people.

Ports: Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to police apprehending suspected illegal migrants outside of port areas.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 July 2008
	The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) will respond to every police request where they encounter and arrest people who they have confirmed have been smuggled into the UK in lorries and take that person to immigration detention if appropriate. The UKBA have worked closely and in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers and have established immigration crime partnerships with 85 per cent. of constabularies in England and Wales with a target to increase this to 90 per cent. by 2008 and 100 per cent. by March 2009. The Government's plans, set out in Enforcing the Deal published on 19 June 2008, set a clear goal to target and remove the most harmful people first, working with local authorities and enforcement agencies to shut down the privileges of the UK to those breaking the rules.
	Copies of this document are placed in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/enforcementbusinessplan08_09/enforcementbusinessplan08_09.pdf?view=Binary

Prisoner Escorts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she issues to police forces on liaison with court officials to ensure the presentation of defendants to court in due time.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 21 July 2008
	Section 46 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 requires that a person who is detained at a police station and charged with an offence shall be brought before a magistrates' court in accordance with the requirements of that section of the Act. The person must be brought before the court as soon as practicable and no later than the first sitting after he is charged with an offence. If there is no sitting for the day on which the person is charged or the next day, the custody officer must inform the designated officer for a local justice area who shall arrange a sitting not later than the day next following the relevant day. Guidance for operational practitioners on how cases might be managed most effectively and efficiently from pre-charge through to conclusion is set out in the Criminal Case Management Framework issued by the Lord Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

Prisoners: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the letter from the Chief Executive of the Border and Immigration Agency to the Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, of 18th February 2008, if she will break down the 250 sentence-expired foreign prisoners who have been detained under immigration powers for more than nine months by nationality; what the longest time spent by such a prisoner in detention is; how many sentence-expired foreign prisoners have been held in detention for more than nine months in each of the last 10 years; and what the average daily cost of holding such a prisoner in detention is.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 March 2008
	In her letter of 18 February, the chief executive of the UK Border Agency advised the Home Affairs Committee that there are approximately 250 foreign national prisoners from countries where difficulties with enforcing removal is encountered and have been detained under immigration powers beyond nine months. She also advised in this letter that the countries that are relevant in this respect were covered during her appearance before the Committee of 15 January, which are Jamaica, Nigeria, China and Vietnam.
	She has regularly updated the Home Affairs Committee with the most robust and accurate information available however, as she has explained in her letters, information prior to April 2006 is not available due to issues with the quality of the management information that is held therefore we are only able to identify the longest period an individual has been detained for through the examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. The average cost to detain an individual within the UK Border Agency estate is 119 per night

Project Contest

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of Project Contest.

Jacqui Smith: Contest is the United Kingdom's long-term strategy for countering international terrorism and the violent extremism that lies behind it. Building upon Contest, public service agreement (PSA) 26 aims to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from international terrorism. To achieve this aim, the Government's specific objectives are to:
	stop terrorist attacks;
	where we cannot stop an attack, to mitigate its impact;
	strengthen our overall protection against terrorist attack; and
	stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism.
	Developing and delivering the strategy involves Government Departments, local authorities, the police and other emergency services, the security and intelligence agencies, voluntary organisations, the business sector and partners from across the world. Effectiveness of the strategy is assessed against key outcomes, supported by performance indicators, included in the PSA delivery agreement on countering terrorism. A summary of the PSA was published in October 2007(1). Progress in delivering the PSA will be reported directly to the Prime Minister on a bi-annual basis and, so far as it is possible and consistent with national security, scrutiny arrangements for this PSA, including parliamentary scrutiny, will mirror those in place for other PSAs with progress reports made public during the CSR period.
	(1) http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/B/9/pbr_csr07_psa26.pdf

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the reports produced for the review of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Tony McNulty: A copy of the reportwith redactions to protect operational techniqueswas placed in the House Library on 20 June 2007.

Religious Hatred: Crimes of Violence

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of religiously-motivated violence against  (a) Muslims,  (b) Jews,  (c) Christians,  (d) Sikhs,  (e) Buddhists and  (f) Hindus were recorded in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Home Office collects statistics on recorded racially or religiously aggravated offences for some specific categories of offence. However, it is not possible to determine (a) whether an offence was of a racial or religious nature or (b) the religion of the victim.

Revenue and Customs: Shipping

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of ships arriving in the UK were searched by  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) the Immigration Service in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The number of ships searched in UK ports by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) specialist search teams in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Year ending 31 March:  Number 
			 2006 333 
			 2007 385 
			 2008 505

Security Industry Authority

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the  (a) public accountability,  (b) transparency,  (c) competence and  (d) compliance with statutory obligations of the Security Industry Authority; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 The Home Office works closely with the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to ensure that it meets its statutory and other obligations, including those relating to public accountability and transparency, and that it is fully competent to meet its aims and objectives.
	The SIA's corporate and business plan is available on its website, as are the minutes of its board meetings. The SIA's annual report and accounts for 2007-08 were published on 28 July 2008.
	I am aware that in recent months the SIA's customers have experienced regrettable delays in service following the introduction of a new processing system. The problems have been communicated by the SIA to its partners and stakeholders. It has also apologised for the delays which have occurred, and put in place a comprehensive recovery plan which has resulted in service levels reducing close to the SIA's published standards.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Information Officers

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers the Serious and Organised Crime Agency employs.

Jacqui Smith: SOCA has three full-time and one part-time External Communications Officers, as well as a full-time Head of External Communication. The officers' remit is not limited to media relations, but also encompasses internet and stakeholder communication.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Manpower

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) police support staff have been reassigned to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency since its creation, broken down by the (i) region and (ii) organisation of origin.

Jacqui Smith: Since the formation of SOCA in April 2006 no police officer or member of police staff has been reassigned to SOCA. Any person joining SOCA from a police force after 1 April 2006 will have been appointed following a normal recruitment process.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Resignations

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff resigned from the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in each quarter since its inception.

Jacqui Smith: The pattern of resignations of permanent SOCA staff over the eight quarters since the inception of SOCA is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Q1 7 
			 Q2 10 
			 Q3 28 
			 Q4 30 
			 Q5 36 
			 Q6 46 
			 Q7 29 
			 Q8 45 
		
	
	The total loss of staff through resignations to date is 231 and represents less than 5.7 per cent. of SOCA's staffing complement at its commencement of operations.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual assault referral centres there are in each criminal justice area.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 There are currently 19 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in England and Wales. In addition, there is one SARC that is solely dedicated to children. A table showing the breakdown of SARCs by police force area is as follows.
	
		
			  SARCs by police area 
			  SARC  Police area 
			 Helen Britton House, Cleveland Cleveland Police 
			 Millfield House, Derbyshire Derbyshire Constabulary 
			 Meadowfield Suite, Durham Durham Constabulary 
			 Elm Tree House, Dyfed Powys Dyfed Powys Police 
			 St. Mary's SARC, Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Police 
			 Laburnum House, Gwent Gwent Police 
			 The Treetops Centre, Portsmouth Hampshire Constabulary 
			 The Renton Clinic, Dartford Kent Constabulary 
			 The SAFE Centre, Preston Lancashire Constabulary 
			 Juniper Lodge, Leicester Leicestershire Constabulary 
			 Haven Paddington, London Metropolitan Police Service 
			 Haven Camberwell, London Metropolitan Police Service 
			 Haven Whitechapel, London Metropolitan Police Service 
			 REACH Rhona Cross Centre, Newcastle Northumbria Police 
			 REACH Ellis Fraser Centre, Sunderland Northumbria Police 
			 The Topaz Centre, Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Police 
			 Willow House, Merthyr Tydfil South Wales Police 
			 Sheffield Children's SARC, Sheffield South Yorkshire Police 
			 Rowan Centre, Walsall West Midlands Police 
			 New Swindon Sanctuary, Swindon Wiltshire Constabulary

Street Pastors Project

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the operation of the Street Pastor's project; how many schemes are operating; what assessment she has made of their effectiveness; what support from the public purse is provided; and what plans there are for future funding.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 : The Street Pastors is an interdenominational church initiative which engages with people on the street to listen to their concerns and offer support. They now operate in more than 60 locations around the UK including London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Nottingham and Plymouth. More information about the organisation and their work can be found on their website:
	http://www.streetpastors.co.uk/Home/tabid/255/Default.aspx
	From feedback and case studies, there is anecdotal evidence that the Street Pastors have made a significant impact on the lives of young people in urban areas. As part of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme (TGAP), the Home Office provided a one-off grant of 120,000 in 2007-08 to support the expansion of the organisation's activities in the TGAP areas.
	The provision of Home Office grant funding for third sector organisations is currently under review.

Strip Clubs

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 180W, on strip clubs, when the Government plans to make a statement on the outcome of its examination of measures necessary to support local communities in controlling lapdancing establishments.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 1 July 2008
	 The Government are consulting with local authorities on any concerns they have which they feel cannot be addressed by existing controls, including the Licensing Act 2003, and whether we need to do more to protect local communities. We recognise that people do not necessarily want lap dancing establishments in their neighbourhoods and we want to ensure local authorities have the powers to reflect the views of local people when considering applications and monitoring existing licenses. We will consider, for example, whether lap dancing clubs should fall under the category of Sex Encounter Establishments under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and legislate if there is a need to do so.

Telephone Contact Centres

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will answer questions 166551 and 166552 on telephone contact centres, tabled by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne on 15 November 2007.

Liam Byrne: I replied to the hon. Member on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1335-38W.

Terrorism

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many points of the Government's August 2005 counter-terrorism plan have been implemented.

Jacqui Smith: The 12 point plan was announced by the then Prime Minister on 5 August 2005 following the London bombings on 7 July that year. Significant progress has been made on the plan. Of the 12 points, 10 have been actioned and the consultation has been completed on two. All counter-terrorism work has now been subsumed into the United Kingdom's long-term strategy for countering terrorism (the CONTEST strategy).

Terrorism: Convictions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of terrorist offences in each of the last five years, broken down by offence.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Office are currently working with the National Co-ordinator for Terrorist Investigations to improve the quality of data relating to those arrested, charged and convicted under terrorist legislation and under other legislation but following a terrorist investigation. Once this is complete a statistical bulletin to cover information on arrests and convictions will be published. This will include a greater breakdown of charges and convictions into offence categories by year.
	Statistics compiled from police records are available on the Home Office website from 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2007.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/?view=Standard
	These detail arrests under this Act and under other legislation where the investigation is considered terrorist related and the outcomes to those arrests, including convictions.
	For this period, there were 41 Terrorism Act convictions. There were also 183 convictions under other legislation.
	In addition to the aforementioned, statistics on the number of convictions in significant terrorist cases are collated for 2007 and 2008. In 2007, 37 individuals were convicted in 15 significant terrorist cases. 21 of those individuals pleaded guilty. So far in 2008, 33 people have been convicted in 10 significant terrorist cases. Of these 33, 12 individuals pleaded guilty.
	Figures are compiled from police records and are subject to change as cases go through the system.

Terrorism: Crime Prevention

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many major terrorist plots were disrupted in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 July 2008
	We are unable to provide a breakdown of terrorist operations for each year.
	There have been 17 plots since 2000, 12 of which were disrupted.

Terrorism: Detainees

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 387W, on terrorism, how many of those detained were held for  (a) fewer than seven days after arrest,  (b) between eight and 14 days,  (c) between 15 and 21 days and  (d) between 22 and 28 days before charge or release.

Jacqui Smith: Of the six men arrested in the London/Glasgow incident, detention length before release or charge was:
	 (a) one individual fewer then seven days who was charged;
	 (b) four individuals between eight and 14 days, one was charged and three were released without charge;
	 (c) one individual between 15 and 21 days who was charged;
	 (d) 0 individuals between 22 and 28 days.

Terrorism: Stop and Search

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many authorisations have been made to stop and search individuals taking photographs under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in each year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 permits the authorisation of stop and search powers within a specialised area or place for the purpose of preventing terrorism. The authorisation does not restrict the power to any single identified behaviour; therefore I am unable to give you a figure for the number of people who have been stopped and searched for taking photos.

Theft: Metals

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of theft of metal have been recorded in each police constabulary area in each of the last 12 months; how many successful prosecutions have been brought as a result; and what penalty was imposed in each case.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. In terms of the police recorded crime statistic, it is not possible to identify the number of thefts where metal was stolen. Such offences are recorded in the 'Other theft' classification and cannot be separately identified from other items stolen. The same applies to the court proceedings data collected by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Theft: Metals

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the effect of trends in global scrap metal prices on trends in the levels of  (a) opportunistic and  (b) organised theft of metals from (i) public and (ii) private property.

Vernon Coaker: We are supporting the Association of Chief Police Officers led Scrap Metal Theft working group to address the problem of metal theft and will be working closely with all stakeholders and Government Departments to establish effective responses to the problem.
	The ACPO working group have produced a problem profile which identified various levels of criminality from low level offenders to some evidence of organised crime groups starting to venture into metal theft. The police analysis shows increased criminal activity at low and organised ends are driven by increased price of scrap metal. The problem profile was used as the basis for the development of the working group's strategy to address the issue.
	Regardless of the level of criminality it is clear that the consequences of metal theft can be significant for local communities, businesses and the national infrastructure.

UK Border Agency: Conferences

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency and its predecessor agencies have spent on conferences in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2004-05 1,050,876.18 
			 2005-06 3,075,721.94 
			 2006-07 1,899,276.80 
			 2007-08 1,431,719.69 
			 2008-09(1) 374,201.13 
			 (1) Three months April to June. 
		
	
	Figures for conference spend for years prior to 2004 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost as they are not held on the current Home Office accounting system.

UK Border Agency: Finance

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) budget for and  (b) expenditure on maritime border patrols and operations was by (i) the UK Border Agency and (ii) other agencies involved in border patrol in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The following table provides details of expenditure relating to these operations, for the financial years 2002-03 through to 2007-08. These costs include: staffing; travel and subsistence; vessel service and maintenance; running costs and depreciation. This information has been taken from management information reports from both HMRC and HMCE finance ledgers.
	
		
			million 
			 2002-03 10.2 
			 2003-04 9.0 
			 2004-05 9.7 
			 2005-06 10.3 
			 2006-07 10.6 
			 2007-08 12.2

UK Border Agency: Patrol Craft

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operational hours were undertaken by boats and other marine craft operated by  (a) the UK Border Agency and  (b) other agencies engaged in border patrol in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for vessels which had previously been operated by HM Revenue and Customs and were formerly the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.
	UKBA estimate that from 2001 to 2008 these vessels undertook a total of 21,900 operational hours per year.
	Due to fluctuations in the number of vessels in operation, and operating patterns, we do not have a record of operational hours undertaken before this date.

UK Border Agency: Powers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many frontline officers serving in the UK Border Agency had been granted both immigration and customs powers by 30 June 2008.

Liam Byrne: When the creation of the UK Border Agency was reported to the House on 3 April 2008, it was announced that by the summer we expected over 1,000 front-line staff to have cross conferred customs and immigration powers.
	The UK Border Agency expected to exceed the 1,000 target by the end of June and I am pleased to confirm that is the case. As of 30 June, cross conferrals have enabled in excess of 1,020 UK Border Agency front-line officers to exercise both immigration and customs powers at the UK border.

UK Border Agency: Southampton

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much her Department spent on the visit of the Minister of State for Immigration and the media to UK Border Agency operations off the coast of Southampton in the week commencing 7 July 2008; and from which budget this expenditure was met;
	(2)  what the purpose was of the border operations off the coast of Southampton in the week commencing 7 July 2008.

Liam Byrne: As Borders and Immigration Minister I spend as much time as possible listening to front line staff about reform to the UK Border Agency.
	On 8 July 2008, I visited the Maritime Forces in Southampton to listen and learn from UKBA officers in a routine patrol of a cutter. I met with UK Border Agency staff to discuss their local operations as part of the UK Border Agency's new combined force at the border. Four representatives from the media were present to capture and provide information to the public on the UK Border Agency's activity at the border.
	The costs to the Home Office were negligible, comprising travel and subsistence for myself and three officials as well as light refreshments which were provided for myself and members of the press.

Vetting

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the differences between basic and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks are; and what guidance she issues to public authorities on which type of check should be commissioned.

Meg Hillier: A basic disclosure is the lowest level of disclosure. This would contain details of convictions considered to be unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 or state that there are no such convictions. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not currently provide a basic check.
	There are two levels of disclosures currently available from the CRB, known as standard and enhanced. The two checks are available in circumstances where an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the ROA. This includes any organisation whose staff or volunteers work with children or vulnerable adults.
	Standard disclosures are available to anyone working with children or vulnerable adults, as well as certain other occupations and entry into professions as specified in the ROA. They show spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the post involves working with children or vulnerable adults, the following may also be searched:
	Protection of Children Act (POCA) List.
	Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List.
	Information that is held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99).
	Enhanced disclosures are available to anyone involved in regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. They are also available for certain licensing purposes and judicial appointments. Enhanced disclosures contain the same information as the standard disclosure with the addition of any relevant information held by local police forces and disclosed at their discretion.
	It is ultimately for each employer and not the CRB to determine what level of check is required for specific employment positions. Such determination is based on their legal and other responsibilities and subject to any statutory requirements as set by their own regulatory authorities.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer Questions 202448, 202449, 202450 and 202451, tabled on 24 April 2008, and Questions 202758, 202759, 202760 and 202763, tabled on 25 April 2008, on the national identity register.

Meg Hillier: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Security, Counter Terrorism, Crime and Policing replied to Question 202449 on 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 455W.
	I replied to the hon. Member as follows: Questions 202759-60 on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1000W, Question 202763 on 17 June 2008,  Official Report , column 835W, Question 202451 on 26 June 2008,  Official Report , column 444W, Question 202450 on 2 July 2008,  Official Report , column 912W, and Questions 202448 and 202758 on 10 July 2008,  Official Report , columns 1768-9W.

Young Offenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed by juvenile offenders in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available from the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.

Young Offenders: Wales

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to paragraph 20 of the Youth Crime Action Plan 2008, what meetings have been planned to date with the Welsh Assembly Government to take forward the plan in Wales where appropriate; and whether additional resources will be committed to implementing the action plan in Wales.

Vernon Coaker: Officials in the three Departments leading on the Youth Crime Action Plan worked with their counterparts in the Welsh Assembly Government to develop the content and proposals in the Action Plan as they apply to Wales. Discussions will be on-going as we consult on and implement the Action Plan. The Government have committed almost 100 million to the Action Plan's implementation over the next two and a half years, including, where appropriate, its implementation in Wales.

Immigration: Criminal Records

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances criminal records checks are carried out on  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals entering the UK.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question, Immigration: Criminal Records of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1445W.
	In relation to the circumstances in which criminal records checks are carried out, as my earlier answer stated, our policy is that the documents of all foreign nationals at ports of entry are checked against the Home Office Warnings Index.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many academy schools there are in England;
	(2)  which local education authority has the highest number of academy schools.

Jim Knight: There are currently 83 academies open in 49 local authorities with 50 opening in the 2008/09 school year. We plan to open up to a further 80 in 2009 and 100 in 2010 bringing the total to over 310 academies.
	There are three local authorities where a total of nine academies are either open or are plannedKent where there are seven academies open and two are in feasibility; Southwark where there are also seven academies open with one in the implementation stage and one in feasibility; and, Manchester where two academies are already open and a further seven at the feasibility stage.

Academies

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of changes in levels of educational attainment resulting from the establishment of academy schools.

Jim Knight: We use a number of measures to assess the changes in educational attainment in academies.
	In 2007, for the 36 academies with underperforming predecessor schools (i.e. not including former City Technology Colleges) the proportion of students gaining five or more GCSE at A*-Cs increased from 22 per cent. in 2001 to 43.7 per cent. in 2007 compared to a national increase of 12.2 points. Including English and Maths the increase is 11.2 percentage points from 14.0 per cent. to 25.2 per cent. compared to a national increase of 7.8 points.
	Independent evaluations also recognise this trend. The National Audit Office report of 2007 found that GCSE performance is improving faster in academies than in other types of school. Taking account of students' personal circumstances and their prior attainment, academies' GCSE performance is substantially better, on average, than other schools. The 2007 PwC report also said that academies' progress in terms of student achievement has generally exceeded corresponding Improvements at a national level and amongst similar schools.
	Finally, Ofsted have now inspected 24 academies. One academyMossbournehas been graded as outstanding in every single respect. In terms of their overall effectiveness, four have been graded as outstanding, seven good, with the remaining 13 graded as satisfactory. Key to the future success of the academies is their leadership and management. On this indicator, six academies have been graded outstanding, 17 good and one satisfactory. That means that 96 per cent. which have good or outstanding leadership, compared to 62 per cent. for secondary schools in general.

Academies

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of academy schools on  (a) the primary school sector in the relevant catchment area,  (b) the local community and  (c) the local economy.

Jim Knight: We have not made a formal assessment of the effects on local primary schools, local communities and local economies. However, there is anecdotal evidence that academies do have a positive effect in these areas.
	Many academies work closely with their feeder primary schools to help raise standards. For example, one sponsor is currently working on a joint programme between two academies and partner primaries, with involvement from the local authority and national strategies. This will involve joint training for primary and academy teachers, targeted interventions for pupils not performing at the expected level in writing, and teachers from year six of the primary schools and year seven of the academies meeting to discuss pupils' progress and jointly agree targets for individual pupils. We are also supporting 15 academy projects that are all-through schools. In this way the academies will be able to make an impact at an earlier stage of their students' education.
	The PWC Academies Evaluation of 2007 noted that
	Independence appears to have given principals, staff and governors far greater confidence to explore new avenues of funding and new partnerships within the wider community.
	We also have good anecdotal evidence that academies engage with their communities. For example, the Capital City Academy in Brent allows local supplementary schools to use their facilities, their professional library staff have worked closely with their local library service to set up reading events, and they have become central hubs for local sports and arts partnerships. They were recently named the specialist school which had made the greatest positive impact on its local schools. An award supported by their local family of schools.
	We would expect academies to have a positive effect on their local economy. A number of academies are sponsored by local employers, and their contribution, alongside the rising standards in academies should lead to a more skilled workforce in local communities.

Academies

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many applications for academy school status his Department is considering.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	151 Academy projects are currently at various stages of development. This includes:
	78 projects in feasibility
	36 projects in implementation; and
	39 projects for which a statement of intent has been issued, and which are now working towards the feasibility stage.

Academies

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of his Department's Academies Unit is  (a) per pupil and  (b) per year of operation.

Jim Knight: The budgeted cost of Academies Group in this financial year is 4.5 million. In addition to the 83 academies already open, the Academies Group is actively engaged with developing a large number of academy projects, all of which are at different stages of development. It is therefore not meaningful to calculate a per pupil figure.

Academies: Lancaster

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he last met Lancashire county council representatives to discuss academies in Lancaster.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has not had any meetings with Lancashire county council representatives to discuss academies in Lancaster since the department was created in June 2007.

Academies: Sponsorship

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what minimum criteria academy school sponsors must meet.

Jim Knight: Sponsors come from a wide range of backgrounds, including universities, educational foundations, businesses, individuals and faith communities. The suitability of sponsors and their ability to make a significant contribution to the academies programme is assessed during the process of brokering a project before an expression of interest is agreed by the Secretary of State.
	The Department carries out rigorous checks to establish the suitability of individuals and organisations wishing to become sponsors of academies. These include checking their financial viability to supply the funds pledged as well as their general suitability.
	Potential sponsors should be able to demonstrate:
	transparency of business arrangements (both in the EU and overseas) and ability to account for funds (including donations from other parties);
	evidence of a successful business background including evidence of consistent and sustained trading (where appropriate);
	a long-term commitment to the UK education sector and the aims of the academies programme;
	potential to run a successful school and to contribute towards raising standards;
	ability to enhance the reputation of the academies programme;
	ability to promote community cohesion; and
	financial status commensurate with academy sponsorship and/or evidence of ability to raise the necessary funds where appropriate.

Academies: Sponsorship

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding is required from  (a) private sector and  (b) university partner sponsors of academy schools.

Jim Knight: Sponsors of the early academies were required to provide 10 per cent. of the capital costs of a new building, capped at a maximum of 2 million. These sponsorship funds were not payable up-front, but over the lifetime of a building project.
	In 2006, the endowment model of sponsorship was announced. All sponsors are now expected to establish an endowment fund.
	A sponsor from the educational sector may bring value to an academy project through their reputation and expertise in the educational field, but have more restricted access to charitable funding. For this reason, sponsors with a successful track record of running educational institutions (including high performing schools and colleges, universities and sponsors of existing academies) are expected to establish an endowment fund, but are not required to commit any specific sum to the endowment.
	Other sponsors joining the programme will, as the norm, establish an endowment fund worth 2 million, with a minimum of 500,000 payable in the first year. Payment of the endowment will normally be over five years.
	The proceeds of the endowment are spent by the academy trust on measures to counteract the impact of deprivation on education in their local communities.

Arts: Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government has taken to improve performing arts education in schools.

Jim Knight: There are now 494 specialist arts colleges. They are free to choose between the three broad areas of the arts, including the performing arts. They ensure that learning in the arts is marked by creative rigour and discipline, develop the skills of teachers and use new technologies to raise the quality of teaching and learning. They also work with other schools and the local community in sharing facilities and resources to develop learning opportunities in the arts, through partnerships with creative industries and arts institutions.
	Last November we announced unprecedented funding of 332 million specifically for music to 2011including 82 million per year direct to local authorities ring-fenced for music education. The work we are taking forward in music focuses on participation and performance. Building on this, in February 2008 we announced the Find Your Talent programme of 10 pathfinders that will trial ways of providing opportunities for children and young people to have a range of high quality arts and cultural experiences, including playing music or singing in ensembles and taking part in theatre and dance performances. We are also continuing to invest in the Creative Partnerships programme so that it can give more pupils the opportunity to develop creativity in learning by working with creative professionals and cultural organisations, including theatre companies, dance and recording studios and orchestras.

CAFCASS: Finance

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will break down the 108.3 million CAFCASS budget for 2007-08 by category and sub-categories of expenditure.

Kevin Brennan: The total CAFCASS resource budget (including grant-in-aid) was 108.633 million and expenditure was 108.549 million. Information about expenditure by category is in the CAFCASS Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 (HC 692) a copy of which is available in the House Library.

Children: Day Care

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in Darlington constituency took up free nursery places in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The available information is shown in the tables.
	Table 1 provides information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds in Darlington parliamentary constituency area. Data is provided for 2007 only because parliamentary constituency data are not yet available for 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1, 2 ) filled by three and four-year-olds Darlington Parliamentary Constituency: Position at January 2007 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			   maintained nursery and primary schools3  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  total three year olds  maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  total four year olds 
			 2007 710 (5)330 1,000 930 (6)130 1,100 
			 (1). A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	Table 2 provides information for 2008 about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds for Darlington local authority area
	
		
			  Table 2: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1, 2 ) filled by three and four-year-olds ,  Darlington Local Authority: Position at January 2008 
			   T hree -  year - olds  F our - year - olds 
			   maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  total three year olds  maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  other maintained and private,. voluntary and independent providers  total four year olds 
			 2008 810 (5)410 1,200 1,100 (6)140 1,200 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four year olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2008, available on my Department's website:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rspateway/.

Children: Homicide

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children died as a result of homicide in each English local authority area in each of the last five years, broken down by age.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Information held by the Home Office cannot be broken down to local authority area. Available data from the Homicide Index relates to offences currently recorded as homicide where the victim was aged under 16, as at 12 November 2007. Tables which have been placed in the Library show the number of such offences recorded by each police force area in England between 2002/03 and 2006/07. Full analysis of data for 2007/08 is not yet published.

Children: Public Participation

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much the TellUs3 survey cost.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 July 2008
	Ofsted is responsible for the delivery of TellUs3. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has been working closely with them to support this important piece of work. Ofsted have advised us that it will cost them 139,500 to deliver TellUs3 with the set up costs for the survey having been met in delivery of TellUs2.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions his Department and its predecessors instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not hold centrally the specific information requested. The same was true of its recent predecessors, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Education and Employment.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Jim Knight: The Department has no agencies to report on.
	The details of the buildings occupied by the Department's non-departmental public bodies where the lease is due for renewal in the next four years are given as follows.
	
		
			  Properties with lease renewals due before 30 June 2012 
			  Occupier/address  Date of expiry 
			  CAFCASS  
			 Brimington Road, Chesterfield 30 October 2008 
			 Charter House, Ilford 24 December 2008 
			 Edward House, Stockport 31 March 2009 
			 Printing House Street, Birmingham 24 September 2009 
			 87 Manchester Road, Rochdale 31 October 2009 
			 Southway, Bedford 24 November 2009 
			 Archway Tower, London 21 December 2009 
			 Southgate, Chichester 1 February 2010 
			 Gough Street, Wolverhampton 31 March 2010 
			 Lathom Road, Southport 31 March 2010 
			 Lesser Knowlethorpe 12 October 2010

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether his Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families is committed to meet the requirements of all environmental legislation; and continually improve its environmental performance through the regular review of its management system. The Department's energy efficiency policy does not differentiate between  (a) rented and  (b) owned properties.
	 Changes to energy efficiency:
	(i) Since 2002/03 a reduction in energy efficiency of 7.5 per cent.
	(ii) Since(1) 1999/00 a reduction in energy efficiency of 8.2 per cent.
	(1 )Data is not available prior to this period.
	Information on energy efficiency has been taken from the latest published Sustainable Development in Government Return and covers the years 1999/00 to 2006/07. The information from this return is for the Department's buildings as a whole and cannot be split into individual buildings. Only buildings carrying out central Government business are included within this return.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families has adopted Sustainable Development in Government targets on energy efficiency and progress is monitored through the Department's environmental management system, encompassing current and any new  (a) rented and  (b) owned properties.

Departmental Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisations have received  (a) free and  (b) discounted room hire from (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case.

Jim Knight: It is not departmental practice to hire out rooms in its buildings.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In October 2004 the Department for Education and Skills, now the Department for Children, Schools and Families introduced software with the capability to power off computer devices remotely. Since the above date, this software has been configured (and runs nightly) to detect which computer devices are left on at a predetermined time in the evening and turn these devices off.
	To answer part  (a) of the PQ: the number of computer devices left on overnight in the Department when not in use is 0.
	To answer part  (b) of the PQ: the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in the Department is 0.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Jim Knight: The Department of Children Schools and Families does not keep records centrally of conferences which were cancelled and therefore it is not possible to provide this information except at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department have taken early retirement since the Department was established.

Jim Knight: The Department was established as part of the Machinery of Government changes of 28 June 2007. There have been 63 employees who have taken early retirement in the Department since it was formed.
	The Department has no agencies.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The cost to the Department for employing a press and media officer in 2007-08 was in the range of 30,042 to 34,938.

Departmental Internet

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average age of users of the Build Your Own PlaySpace on his Department's website; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department developed the 'Build your PlaySpace' interactive tool to engage children and young people in the Fair Play consultation in a fun and interactive way. The tool is one strand of a wider consultation strategy that includes an activity poster/competition for children and young people, live events to encourage local dialogue with children, young people, their families and practitioners and written consultation. Responses from all of these strands will be analysed as a whole.
	We recognised that, in order to engage most effectively with children and young people, it was important to offer them a choice of how to share their views on play with us, and to do so in a fresh and creative way. The tool has been designed specifically for children and young people between the ages of eight and 13, and the vast majority of the responses received thus far (approximately 75 per cent.) have been from within this age group, although we have deliberately not limited responses solely to this group.
	The tool was launched on 20 May and it has been supported by a cross channel advertising campaign with young people, parents and school workforce channels carrying animated banners with links to the tool.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Beverley Hughes: The Department spent 36,295 on branding and 14,062,103 on marketing activity in 2007-08.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: It is not possible to identify the cost of  (a) internet and website design and hosting and  (b) print media design, except at disproportionate cost. However, it is possible to separate the Department's spend on  (c) broadcast media, as this is centrally placed through the Central Office of Information. The Department's advertising spend since 1997 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   000 
			 1997-98 9,992 
			 1998-99 15,673 
			 1999-2000 11,900 
			 2000-01 29,110 
			 2001-02 17,665 
			 2002-03 13,790 
			 2003-04 20,170 
			 2004-05 11,088 
			 2005-06 7,939 
			 2006-07 6,265 
			 2007-08 11,589

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  which make and model of car the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families has chosen as his ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency;
	(2)  which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes;
	(2)  what purchasing process is used by his Department for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Jim Knight: The Department does not keep a record of the amount spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes.
	The following guidance is issued by the Department to staff on the provision of alcohol.
	There is a general principle that alcohol should not be provided at public expense and never when only civil servants are present.
	Moderate amounts of alcohol can be provided at public expense when entertaining non- civil servants if not providing alcohol might be regarded as unusual or cause embarrassment. Examples of such events are hospitality from Ministers, at publicity events such as launches or the rare occasions when senior staff judge that official business can best be transacted by hosting a meeting over lunch or dinner. This policy is in accordance with the principles of Treasury guidance in Managing Public Money and Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.
	Payment can be made by Government Procurement Card for Ministerial and other official hospitality where such use has been previously authorised. Otherwise, payment can be made at the time and reclaimed or the invoice sent to the Department for payment by the central payment team. If it is considered the occasion did not justify expenditure on alcohol the individual will be expected to meet the cost themselves.

Departmental Overtime

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of overtime payments paid to staff in his Department was in each of the last 12 months, broken down by pay grade.

Jim Knight: The cost of overtime payments in my Department by grade is set out in the following table(1). Overtime is not payable to members of the senior civil service.
	(1) specialist grades are included in their grade equivalent. Grades 6 and 7 are entitled to an extra hours' discretionary payment for long hours working and a weekend attendance allowance subject to an overriding limit.
	
		
			   
			  Month  Executive assistant  Executive officer  Higher executive officer  Senior executive officer  Grade 7  Grade 6  Total 
			 June 2008 11,600 19,800 29,000 8,500 6,200 0 75,100 
			 May 2008 12,200 18,900 27,300 6,800 9,000 2,500 76,700 
			 April 08 13,300 24,700 26,200 14,100 9,200 4,300 91,800 
			 March 2008 11,300 19,500 31,700 12,000 5,300 2,700 82,600 
			 February 2008 11,200 19,200 30,300 13,700 13,800 900 89,100 
			 January 2008 6,200 9,700 12,800 8,400 4,400 1,000 42,400 
			 December 2007 9,100 14,900 28,800 10,900 7,300 800 71,700 
			 November 2007 13,500 21,000 23,600 11,400 11,400 500 81,300 
			 October 2007 9,500 8,400 11,800 7,400 500 1,100 38,600 
			 September 2007 6,200 6,600 10,400 4,900 7,400 600 36,100 
			 August 2007 10,700 11,600 13,400 11,000 5,400 1,000 53,100 
			 July 2007 10,300 14,600 15,400 6,500 6,100 4,700 57,500 
			 Total 125,100 188,700 260,600 115,700 85,800 20,100 796,100

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Jim Knight: It is departmental policy to ask tenderers, through our standard invitation to tender letter, to provide details of discounts for prompt payments.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums his Department has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and who the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case.

Beverley Hughes: The Department for Children Schools and Families has regular engagement with its stakeholders, in addition to running formal consultation exercises, as a necessary part of its policy-making process. Over and above this, the more set piece listening events we have organised in the last two years are as follows:
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families has conducted nine citizen's juries which provided an opportunity for a mix of stakeholders, including members of the general public, to engage with each other in small groups to debate important issues relating to the new Department's remit. The first jury was held in Bristol in September 2007 with a further four debates held in London, Leeds, Portsmouth and Birmingham. An additional four debates also took place in London, Leeds, Portsmouth and Birmingham in March 2008. The total cost of these was 820,000
	The Department has run nine focus groups as part of the Time to Talk consultation in Sutton, Birmingham and Sheffield with children aged 11 to 16 to capture their views on the key issues and challenges. The total cost for the nine focus groups was 18,835.25 and this included the facilitation, analysis, and production of a short film of the events. Central Office of Information (on behalf of the DCSF) procured the services of Opinion Leader Research to design, recruit participants to, and facilitate all the events and procured Glasgows to arrange the locations, logistics and catering for events held in September 2007. All the agencies involved were appointed in line with standard Government practice on procurement.
	The Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families jointly held deliberative events with children, young people and parents to discuss children and young people's health in June 2008. There were three strands to this piece of work:
	focus group research with children aged between seven and 15;
	a deliberative research event with 90 members of the public and 18 frontline health professionals; and
	a deliberative workshop with parents/carers of children with long-term conditions/complex health needs.
	The purpose was to inform the work on the Child Health Strategy, to be published this September and the total cost of managing and running the events was 217,743.75, shared between both Departments
	The Central Office of Information (COI) project managed the exercise, and Opinion Leader were contracted to run the deliberative events themselves.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has initiated  (a) 11 reviews and  (b) 38 public consultations since 27 June 2007. These are listed in order of publication as follows.
	 Reviews initiated by DCSF since 27 June 2007
	Byron ReviewCall for Evidence Adult Version
	Byron ReviewCall for Evidence Children's and Young People's Version
	Bercow Review of Speech, Language and Communication Needs
	Call for EvidenceYouth Sector Support Arrangements
	Independent Review of the Primary CurriculumCall for Evidence
	Review of Mathematics Teaching in Early Years Settings and Primary Schools: Interim Report
	Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Interested Parties' Version)
	Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Parents' Version)
	Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Children and Young People's Version)
	The CAMHS ReviewNext Steps to Improving the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health of Children and Young People Call for Evidence
	Zero Carbon School Buildings
	 Public consultations initiated by DCSF since 27 June 2007
	CFR Framework 2007-08
	Schools Capital Consultation on Programme Proposals for 2008-11
	Safeguarding Children who may have been Trafficked
	Staying Safe
	Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) consultation about the transfer of responsibility for the registration of independent schools and the regulation of independent and non-maintained special schools (NMSSs) to Ofsted
	Consultation into the Definition of an Independent School
	Staying SafeYoung Person version
	Time to Talk
	Time to TalkYoung People's Version
	Consultation On Draft Information As To Provision Of Education (England) Regulations 2008
	Review of Implementation of Guidance on Handling Allegations of Abuse Against Those who Work with Children and Young People
	Key Stage 3 Test Absence Collection
	Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: Independent Safeguarding Authority Scheme Consultation
	Draft Guidance To Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords On The Use of Parenting Orders and Parenting Contracts
	Childcare Act 2006: Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies
	Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment (Joint DCSF/DIUS consultation)
	Home Access to Technology
	Independent School Inspectoratesa consultation document
	Guidance on Child Trust Fund Top Ups for Looked After Children
	Guidance on Personal Education Allowances for Looked After Children
	Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver (Joint DCSF/DIUS consultation)
	Consultation on Draft School Admissions (Alteration and Variation of, and Objections to, Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
	Consultation on Draft Education (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators) (England) Regulations 2008
	Promoting Achievement, Valuing Success: a Strategy for 14-19 Qualifications
	 (Joint DCSF/DIUS consultation)
	Statutory Guidance for Children's Trusts on the Duty to Co-operate
	The Management of Building Schools for the Future waves 7-15
	Consultation on Proposals Relating to the Commencement of Section 37 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 - staffing at foundation and voluntary schools with a religious character
	Consultation on Introducing Provisional Registration with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) for Trainee Teachers, Unqualified Teachers and Instructors
	Youth Alcohol Action Plan
	Fair Play: A Consultation on the Play Strategy, A Commitment in the Children's Plan
	Fair Playhave your say (Children and Young People's Version)
	Children and Adoption Act 2006Children Act 1989 Contact Activity Directions and Conditions (Financial Assistance) (England) Regulations 2008
	School Admissions Consultation 2008
	School's Role in Promoting Pupil Wellbeing Draft Guidance for Consultation Proposals for Revisions to Legislation for Schools Causing Concern
	Delivering the Children's PlanStrengthening Children's Trusts: legislative options Draft Apprenticeships Bill (Joint DCSF/DIUS consultation)
	Safeguarding Children from Sexual Exploitation

Departmental Retirement

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

Kevin Brennan: The Department was established as part of the machinery of government changes of 28 June 2007. The Department has no mandatory retirement age for staff below the senior civil service and operate the civil service code policy at 65 for the senior civil service. No members of the senior civil service have been asked to retire at 65.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many sick days were taken by employees in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of sick days taken this represented in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Since the formation of the Department to 31 March 2008, the number of sickness days taken by employees due to mental disorder is  (a) 5,407 days. 2,386 days were due to (i) stress and (ii) 3,021 days for other mental health illnesses which can be broken down into depression (2,139 days), anxiety (614 days) and other mental illnesses (268 days).
	This amounts to a proportion of 27 per cent. of all sickness absence days due to stress and other mental disorder. The Department has a number of mainly small non-departmental public bodies  (b) for which information on absences due mental disorders is not held centrally and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department was set up as part of the machinery of government (MoG) changes on 28 June 2007, so the percentage is based on figures from 1 July to 31 March 2008 (the latest information available). It is not directly comparable to the previous Department for Education and Skills (DFES) as many staff moved to the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) as part of the MoG changes.
	The Department is committed to providing a safe working environment and has put in place a range of measures to support managers and employees on health and wellbeing issues, including the provision of professional counselling and support from the Department's Employee Assistance Provider, Right Corecare, a pilot Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Stress Questionnaire and Individual Stress Risk Assessments for employees who require them.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Since the formation of the Department up to 31 March 2008, 72 staff were absent due to stress, representing 2.6 per cent. of all staff. 66 were absent due to other mental disorders, representing 2.4 per cent. of all staff at 31 March. These figures do not include non-departmental public bodies as the information for them is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department was set up as part of the Machinery of Government (MoG) changes on 28 June 2007, so the figures apply from 1 July to 31 March 2008 (the latest information available).
	The Department is committed to providing a safe working environment and has a range of measures in place to support managers and employees on health and wellbeing issues.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: Since the Department was formed in the 28 June 2007 Machinery of Government changes, 293 staff have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days. This applies from the date of establishment of the Department to 31 March 2008 (the latest information available). This equates to 9.5 per cent. of staff in that period.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Due to the wide range of posts and salary points in the Department and its non-departmental public bodies, the actual cost of sick pay to staff in each of the last five years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's general policy for full-time staff is to pay sickness absence on full pay for up to 182 days, followed by sickness absence on half pay for up to 183 days. Sickness absence is unpaid once entitlement to full or half pay has been exhausted, unless HR approves payment of sick pay at pension rate.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the average number of days taken to answer parliamentary questions is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of staff in his Department are disabled; and what the average salary in his Department is of  (a) full-time disabled staff,  (b) full-time non-disabled staff,  (c) part-time disabled staff and  (d) part-time non-disabled staff.

Jim Knight: In the Department, the number of employees who have declared a disability is 187 (6.9 per cent.).
	Records on the numbers of disabled staff are also solely based on voluntary, self-declaration of being a disabled person as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act; and not connected in any way to a formal register of disability.
	Information about average salaries is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff  Salary () 
			 Full-time disabled staff 31,260 
			 Full-time non-disabled staff 34,595 
			 Part-time disabled staff 21,044 
			 Part-time non-disabled staff 22,209 
		
	
	The Department has no agencies.

Disabled: Respite Care

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to paragraph 3.11 of the Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities report, how much of the 150 million funding for breaks for carers of disabled children will be provided by his Department over each of the next two years.

Jim Knight: The 150 million mentioned in the report is to be provided by the Department of Health and paid to primary care trusts. Non of the 150 million referenced in paragraph 3.11 of that report will therefore come from the DCSF.
	The DCSF is however providing 359 million to local authorities over the 2008-11 period to grow short break provision for disabled children. Funding allocations to local authorities can be viewed at:
	www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ahdc

Dyslexia

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been allocated to provide further educational assistance to those with dyslexia-related reading difficulties in 2008-09; and to how many people such assistance will be provided in 2008-09.

Jim Knight: Local authorities and schools are funded to provide special educational needs (SEN) services. The Education Act 1996 requires schools to use their best endeavours to make suitable provision available for all children with SEN, including those with dyslexia. Local authority and school planned spend on SEN (including for children with dyslexia) was 4.9 billion in 2007-08.
	Latest figures for pupils in schools with specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia) show there are 77,090 pupils either with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) or supported at SEN School Action Plus. My Department does not collect data on the particular special educational needs of pupils at School Action, some of whom have specific learning difficulties.
	In December 2007, the Government published the Children's Plan which announced we will spend 18 million over the financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to improve special educational needs provision. This includes 3 million for improving provision for children with dyslexia; the use of most of which will be decided in the light of Sir Jim Rose's recommendations on the identification and teaching of children with dyslexia. However, 150,000 is being provided over two financial years, to enable the British Dyslexia Association to develop their helpline, which provides advice about dyslexia to people including teachers and parents; and 250,000 is being provided over three financial years, to enable Dyslexia Action to run further Partnership for Literacy pilots.
	In addition, we are providing around 1 million, over three years, to the No to Failure project.
	No to Failure is trailblazing and evaluating the impact of specialist training for teachers and specialist tuition for children with dyslexia in some schools in three local authority areas. The final evaluation report will be published early next year.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many departmental staff were prosecuted for  (a) attempting to defraud and  (b) defrauding the education maintenance allowance system in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: No members of staff have been prosecuted for either attempting to defraud or defrauding the education maintenance allowance system in any of the years since 2003. The Department and its predecessor (former Department for Education and Skills) will not accept any level of fraud or corruption and any case will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with appropriately.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of  (a) key stage 2 and  (b) key stage 3 (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science test papers had been marked and results entered into the computer system on each day from 15 June 2008 to 7 July 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to impose financial penalties on ETS for the time taken to produce the key stage 2 and key stage 3 results in 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much is due to be paid to ETS for the administration and marking of the key stage 2 and 3 tests in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) manages the marking process within QCA. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 15 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer to a number of parliamentary questions you recently asked.
	The questions you have asked pertain to information that the National Assessment Agency either does not currently hold in the form you have requested or which relate to information that may be subject to an obligation of confidentiality or may be commercially sensitive.
	Some elements of the information you sought may be available when the test delivery cycle is complete. If that is the case, I will write to you again as soon as possible.
	The total value of the contract over 5 years is 156 million.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether staff from the National Assessment Agency have been seconded to work with ETS on the key stage tests in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA) have informed us that there are no NAA employees seconded to ETS Europe. There are, however, approximately 70 QCA/NAA staff actively working with ETS to ensure the delivery of results to schools.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many complaints about the marking of the key stage tests have been received by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority,  (c) the National Assessment Agency and  (d) ETS in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: By 16 July, the Department had received 204 letters and e-mails about national curriculum tests. Of the 82 that have received replies, 33 were about the administration of the marking process.
	We are advised that, by 11 July, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) had received 58 complaints and the NAA 552 complaints.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 9 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 217698.
	ETS Europe are not yet able to provide information on the number of complaints they have received as their resources are working to complete marking, data entry and communications to schools.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of marking the key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests was in 2007; what he estimates it will be in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) manages the marking process within the QCA. I have therefore asked David Gee, managing director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee to Mr Laws, dated 15 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 217699.
	The contracts that govern the delivery of national curriculum tests do not explicitly separate the cost of marking from other delivery related activities. It is therefore not possible to fully disaggregate the cost of marking from other contract costs for either 2007 or 2008.
	While I cannot provide exact figures, the NAA estimates that the cost of marking is in the vicinity of 14 million for both 2007 and 2008. This figure incorporates estimates for the cost of marker fees, marker training and venue hire.
	More information on the cost of marking for 2008 will be available after the conclusion of the marking cycle including the completion of marking reviews. I will be happy to give you a further update at this time.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he was first informed of problems with the marking of the 2008 key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when his Department was first informed that the key stage 2 and 3 national test results would not be sent to schools by 8 July 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when his Department was first informed that delays were occurring in the marking of key stage national test papers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA), the division of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which delivers the national curriculum tests alerted the Department to a number of issues with delivery of national curriculum tests during the test delivery period. We sought and received consistent and regular assurances that the action being taken would resolve those issues and keep the NAA on track for release of results to schools on schedule.
	The Department was alerted to more significant delivery problems on 1 July. Ken Boston, the chief executive of QCA, wrote to me on 2 July confirming that he expected there would be delays in publishing national curriculum test results, both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.

Education: Assessments

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many emails have been received by ETS from  (a) exam markers and  (b) team leaders in the last 12 months; how many have been answered; and what the (i) average, (ii) longest and (iii) shortest period of time taken to respond was;
	(2)  what targets have been set in relation to the time taken by ETS to answer telephone calls from exam markers and their team leaders; and to what extent those targets have been met;
	(3)  what telephone numbers are provided to ETS exam markers in order to access assistance or advice; and how many telephone calls have been answered on each of those lines in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) manages the marking process within the QCA. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 1 September 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, right hon. Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer to a number of parliamentary questions you recently asked.
	The questions you have asked pertain to information that the National Assessment Agency either does not currently hold in the form you have requested or which relate to information that may be subject to an obligation of confidentiality or may be commercially sensitive.
	Some elements of the information you sought may be available when the test delivery cycle is complete. If that is the case, I will write to you again as soon as possible.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisation has been awarded the contract to mark key stage national test papers in 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 2007 the National Assessment Agency (NAA) awarded ETS Europe a five-year contract from 2008 to 2012, to provide external test delivery services for national curriculum tests.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the results of the key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests which had been marked as at 8 July 2008 have been withheld from schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Ken Boston, Chief Executive of the QCA, informed the Department of a potential delay to results on 1 July, and wrote to me on 2 July to confirm that he expected there to be delays in publishing the results of national curriculum tests. This was both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.
	Following extensive discussions between the Department and QCA and after further advice from Ken Boston, including in a letter to me of 3 July, the Secretary of State wrote to Barry Sheerman, the Chairman of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, to inform him that Key Stage 2 results would be delayed by a week until 15 July, with Key Stage 3 results that are available to be released by the end of the week of 15 July.
	QCA advised that the delays would enable the vast majority of Key Stage 2 marking to be complete. In the case of Key Stage 3, while it would take longer to complete results, the delay would ensure that as many schools as possible to receive results before the end of term. The decision to delay results to all schools was to enable the process to happen in an orderly fashion, minimising uncertainty for schools.
	We understand that this delay will inconvenience many schools, and we share their frustration and disappointment. NAA is using every measure at its disposal to ensure that all results are delivered as quickly as possible.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 2008 key stage 3 tests in English had been marked at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor.
	We have been advised by NAA that 71 per cent. of pupils' key stage 3 English results have been released to schools on Friday 18 July 2008. NAA also advised that there are still some scripts remaining to be marked; other scripts have been marked but are awaiting data entry and technical issues have caused delays to this process.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what criteria were used to assess ETS Europe during the procurement process for the contract to deliver standard assessment tests;
	(2)  from which organisations his Department sought references on ETS as part of the procurement process for the SAT contract.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, managing director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he was informed of problems with the standard assessment testing and marking systems and the particular problems with the ETS Europe contract.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA), the division of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which delivers the national curriculum tests alerted the Department to a number of issues with delivery of national curriculum tests during the test delivery period. We sought and received consistent and regular assurances that the action being taken would resolve those issues and keep the NAA and ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor, on track for release of results to schools on schedule.
	The Department was alerted to more significant delivery problems on 1 July. Ken Boston, the chief executive of QCA, wrote to me on 2 July confirming that he expected there would be delays in publishing national curriculum test results, both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) first became aware that there were potential problems with the standard assessment testing and marking systems; and when the QCA informed Ministers of those potential problems.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 21 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 220498.
	The National Assessment Agency (a subsidiary of the QCA) has closely monitored the development of ETS marking systems since the company was first awarded the contract in early 2007.
	The NAA alerted the Department to a number of issues with delivery of national curriculum tests during the test delivery period.
	The NAA first formally challenged ETS on marking completion on 23 June 2008. ETS responded on the 26 June 2008.
	The Secretary of State was alerted on Tuesday 1 July 2008 to these more significant delivery problems. Ken Boston, the Chief Executive of QCA, wrote to Jim Knight on 2 July confirming that he expected there would be delays in releasing national curriculum test results, both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what meetings attended by Ministers and officials from his Department on the standard assessment tests and marking system were held between September 2007 and 26th June 2008.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), of which the National Assessment Agency (NAA) is a division. Recent meetings have included discussions on the administration and marking of Key Stage tests in 2008, which are now the subject of an independent inquiry being chaired by Lord Sutherland.
	Between September 2007 and 26 June 2008 my officials have met with NAA routinely to discuss national curriculum test delivery. The Department is represented on the QCA Board as an observer. Senior officers from QCA and officials from this Department meet every six weeks, to discuss QCA's core business, including national curriculum test delivery. A monthly Assessment Board, chaired by a senior official, was established in March 2008 to oversee the delivery of the Department's assessment policy.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when Lord Sutherland's report into the delivery of the Department's policy by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the National Assessment Agency will be published.

Jim Knight: We have agreed that Lord Sutherland's inquiry into the delivery of National Curriculum tests will report to both the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Ofqual in the autumn, and that those reports will be published. Lord Sutherland will confirm a date for publication of the final reports in the autumn.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many key stage 2 pupils received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six or higher in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2006.

Jim Knight: The number of Key Stage 2 pupils who received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six in 2007 is available in Table 3b of the Statistical First Release titled National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Provisional) which is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000737/index.shtml
	The number of Key Stage 2 pupils who received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six in 2006 is available in Table 3b of the Statistical First Release titled National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2006 (Provisional) which is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000673/index.shtml

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Key stage 2 pupils achieved a level five result in at least one subject in 2007.

Jim Knight: The available information is contained in Table 4a of the Statistical First Release titled National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Revised) which can be found at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000764/index.shtml
	The table contains percentage of Key Stage 2 pupils who achieved a level five result in at least one subject in 2007.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps were taken by his Department to corroborate the evidence offered by the State Education Board of California in its role as referee for ETS's tender for the contract to mark Key Stage 2 and 3 examinations;
	(2)  what the difference was between the cost of the tender put forward by ETS for the contract to mark Key Stage 2 and 3 examinations and those put forward by other bidders.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, managing director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's strategy in respect of the introduction of online systems for assessment run by ETS.

Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 21 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 221040.
	The NAA's invitation to tender for the procurement of test delivery services required bidders to offer proposals to improve the quality of marking and capture additional item and question level data from pupils. The successful bidder, ETS Europe proposed several on-line online solutions for the delivery of the 2008 test cycle, of which the following three were accepted:
	1. On-line standardisation
	2. On-line Mark capture
	3. On-line benchmarking (Quality assurance during marking).

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what correspondence he has had with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority since 30 March 2008; and if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 July 2008
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) publish a copy of all official correspondence between the Secretary of State and QCA on their website three times a year. A copy of the correspondence up until the end of April 2008 is currently available on QCA's website and this will be updated at the end of October 2008 to cover correspondence from May to August 2008. The QCA's website can be accessed at:
	www.qca.org.uk.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at what point the identified risks relating to the implementation of new online systems of assessment through ETS were entered on his Department's corporate risk register.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 July 2008
	 Risks and mitigations for the introduction of new delivery processes in 2008 for the end of the key stage tests were entered on the Department's high level risk register on 5 July 2007.

Education: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how his Department plans to improve attainment levels amongst Cumbrian pupils following the transition from primary to secondary education.

Jim Knight: The Department's role is to support locally-led improvement strategies. Schoolsgoverning bodies, heads and teachershave the lead responsibility for raising standards, supported and challenged by local authorities who work closely with partners to bring together all the wider services that enable children to succeed and achieve.
	There are a number of initiatives under way that will improve attainment for Cumbria's pupils. A joint Children's Performance Improvement Board for Cumbria has been in operation since February 2008. The Board's aim is to bring strategic drive to tackling the significant underachievement in the local authority's (LA) secondary schools as well as providing support and challenge to the LA's school improvement service. The Board is looking at how schools currently in Ofsted categories can be effectively supported to improve and how the LA can develop better mechanisms for identifying and challenging underperforming schools at risk of falling into failure.
	The Academies programme is already acting as a catalyst to help transform secondary education in Cumbria. Carlisle will benefit from two Academies offering enhanced curriculum and extended schools facilities. Westlakes Academy and the planned Barrow Academy will improve the life chances of all young people in the area, and will help regenerate the local economies and offer co-located services.
	The National Challenge programme launched on 10 June will provide intensive support for all secondary schools in England where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieve five or more good GCSEs including English and mathematics. We are currently waiting for Cumbria to submit plans for their National Challenge schools, identifying what they intend to do to raise attainment above 30 per cent. and how much money they will need from the 400 million available nationally to carry out these plans. Every school will have a National Challenge Adviser as well as access to a range of bespoke school improvement solutions. Where appropriate, funding will provide for radical structural solutions such as Academies and Trusts, including new National Challenge Trusts.

English Language: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) deaf children and  (b) all children failed to attain level 3 at key stage 2 English in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Table 73 of the Statistical First Release 'National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2006/07' shows Key Stage 2 attainment by SEN stage and primary SEN type. This SFR is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000759/index.shtml
	Table 73 can be found via the 9 Additional Information Excel link.
	The table includes information on the attainment of children with a hearing impairment, as information on deaf children is not one of the types of SEN collected. These figures also only include those identified with a statement of SEN or with SEN at School Action Plus who have a hearing impairment as their primary SEN type.

Faith Schools

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and which schools and academies have been designated as having a religious character since 1997.

Jim Knight: The table 8 of the Statistical First Release (SFR 30/2007) reports information about Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools and is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/index.shtml
	This information will be updated for 2008, on Thursday 24 July and will be available on the Research and Statistics Gateway at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000786/index.shtml
	The definition has been amended from 2008 and now includes maintained primary and secondary schools and academies.

Faith Schools: Teachers

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers work in schools with a religious designation; and how many are in  (a) voluntary aided,  (b) voluntary controlled,  (c) foundation and  (d) academy schools.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers in publicly funded schools in England designated as having a religious character broken down by type in England, January 2008.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent teachers with a religious character within publicly funded voluntary aided, voluntary controlled, foundation schools and academies. Year: January 2008Coverage: England 
			   Number 
			 Voluntary Aided(1) 66,530 
			 Voluntary Controlled(1) 22,440 
			 Foundation(1) 1,190 
			 Academies(1) 1,650 
			 Total(1) 91,810 
			 All Schools(2,3,4) 441,210 
			  Source:  School Census(1) and Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618g(2) (3) includes Academies and City Technology Colleges. (4) Provisional. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Further Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many colleges listed sport as  (a) a specialism,  (b) a second specialism and  (c) a combined specialism in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many colleges listed design as  (a) a specialism,  (b) a second specialism and  (c) a combined specialism in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many colleges listed music as  (a) a specialism,  (b) a second specialism and  (c) a combined specialism in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The following tables provide details of the numbers of schools that have been designated as sports, technology, engineering and music colleges in each of the last three years. Design is not one of the 10 specialisms for which schools can apply under the specialist schools programme. I have, however, provided details of the number of technology and engineering colleges as design and technology is one of the subjects which schools designated as technology or engineering colleges may focus on. I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 July 2008 which set out the number of arts colleges designated in each of the last three years. Arts colleges specialising in visual or media arts will have an element of design within their specialist curriculum.
	
		
			   2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  Totals 
			  Sports 
			 Specialism  (a) 26 23 32 81 
			 Second specialism  (b) 7 12 2 21 
			 Combined specialism  (c) 5 9 0 14 
			 Sports totals 38 44 34 116 
			  
			  Technology 
			 Specialism  (a) 28 10 9 47 
			 Second specialism  (b) 1 0 0 1 
			 Combined specialism  (c) 3 4 1 8 
			 Technology totals 32 14 10 56 
			  
			  Engineering 
			 Specialism  (a) 7 7 4 18 
			 Second specialism  (b) 0 0 0 0 
			 Combined specialism  (c) 1 0 0 1 
			 Engineering totals 8 7 4 19 
			  
			  Music 
			 Specialism  (a) 5 4 6 15 
			 Second specialism  (b) 5 5 1 11 
			 Combined specialism  (c) 2 2 1 5 
			 Music totals 12 11 8 31

General Certificate of Secondary Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils left secondary school with  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four,  (e) five,  (f) six,  (g) seven,  (h) eight,  (i) nine and  (j) 10 or more GCSEs graded at C or above in 2007.

Jim Knight: In 2007, the following percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 obtained the following GCSEs and equivalents at grades A*-C.
	
		
			  GCSEs and equivalents at grades A*-C  Percentage 
			 1 or more 82.5 
			 2 or more 76.1 
			 3 or more 71.1 
			 4 or more 67.1 
			 5 or more 62.0 
			 6 or more 56.7 
			 7 or more 51.5 
			 8 or more 45.8 
			 9 or more 38.4 
			 10 or more 27.0

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils achieved five or more A* grades at GCSE in 2007.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 18,482 (2.8 per cent.) pupils achieved at least five A* grades at GCSE.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils received A or A* grades in all their GCSE examinations in 2007.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 23,746 (3.7 per cent.) pupils achieved at least an A grade in all their GCSEs.

Ofsted: Industrial Relations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will intervene in the dispute between Ofsted and the trades unions Unison and PCS.

Jim Knight: This is entirely a matter for Ofsted. Ministers have no powers to intervene. Ofsted has developed a new pay model, in consultation with staff and the trade unions to address some historic concerns about its salary structure. The new model is designed to be simple, fair and transparent, and has helped to secure an above average settlement of 3.8 per cent. from Her Majesty's Treasury. It is based on one salary rate for each grade and Ofsted considers it to be both competitive and affordable. I have been advised by Her Majesty's chief inspector, Christine Gilbert, that Ofsted has engaged in extensive discussions with the unions about the settlement. There is no further money available for pay and Ofsted is unable to respond to the trade union demands regardless of the actions they are taking or may take in the future.

Playgrounds: Disabled

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the proportion of local authority playgrounds which have facilities suitable for children who use wheelchairs.

Beverley Hughes: Provision of playgrounds is a local authority responsibility. In planning and providing playgrounds local authorities ensure that there is suitable access for all children and comply with the disability discrimination legislation.
	In the Children's Plan we committed to invest an additional 235 million to fund up to 3,500 public play areas nationally by 2011. The 235 million investment will build on existing funding, and provide a real opportunity to transform play areas throughout the country. We have been clear that the additional play areas should be accessible by disabled children.
	This Government are fully committed to improving the life chances of disabled children, through an ambitious programme for transforming services.

Pre-U Qualification

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have applied for funding for the pre-U qualification.

Jim Knight: This information is not currently available.

Primary Education: School Meals

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision and take-up of healthy school meals in primary schools.

Jim Knight: The Department is taking a number of steps to increase the take up of meals served in primary schools and to ensure all children have access to healthy food whilst at school.
	School lunch take-up is one of the indicators in the new Child Health PSA and is one of the indicators in the National Indicator Set. New food-based nutritional standards were introduced in September 2006 for school lunches and from September 2007 for other school food. Nutrient-based standards will be introduced for school lunches in September 2008 for primary schools and September 2009 for secondary schools.
	We are investing over 650 million between 2005 and 2011 to help improve school food and keep school lunch prices down. This includes funding to help build kitchens in areas with no kitchen facilities and to better support the development of training centres for the school food workforce. We are also providing an extra 6 million over the next three years to promote healthy food to young people and raise take up.
	Increasing school lunch take-up is also a priority for the School Food Trust. The Trust is supporting schools through its Million Meals Campaign and encouraging healthier eating through its Get Real media campaign aimed at young people. That work is having an impact as shown by the provisional findings from their third annual survey of take up of school meals, reporting on the 2007-08 financial year. In primary schools take up in 2007-08 was 43.6 per cent. an increase of 2.3 percentage points on the value reported for 2006-07 of 41.3 per cent. These figures illustrate that the number of primary school children eating school meals rose by roughly 88000 from 2006-07 to 2007-08.

Pupil Referral Units: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of 15 year old pupils in a pupil referral unit sat a GCSE examination in 2007.

Jim Knight: Statistics on GCSE entries and achievement by pupils in pupil referral units are not available for 2007.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1818-9W, on pupils: per capita costs, how the amounts per place for level 2  (a) engineering,  (b) society, health and development,  (c) IT and  (d) creative and media were calculated; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Guidance was issued to local authorities and 14-19 Partnerships on the funding available, including how the grant has been calculated, and can be accessed through the 14-19 education and skills website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?go=site.home sid=43pid=399ctype=TEXTptype=Single

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Pay

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what salaries were paid to each board member of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the last year.

Jim Knight: QCA board members do not receive a salary. They are however reimbursed for the cost of any travel and subsistence incurred in performing their duties for QCA.

Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school federations took place in each year since 2005; and how many federations are planned.

Jim Knight: Schools are not currently required to notify the Department when establishing or joining a federation so the Department does not keep a systematic record of this activity. As more schools become aware of the benefits of federation we expect numbers to grow over the coming years.

Schools: Admissions

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the socio-economic profile of those parents appealing to get their children into the school of their choice.

Jim Knight: We commissioned Sheffield Hallam university, in conjunction with NatCen, to map the effectiveness of the admission arrangements in England in 2006, and to assess parents' experience of these arrangements.
	The study found no significant association between parents' family characteristics and the likelihood that they would appeal against not getting a school of their choice.

Schools: Admissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many applications for school places were found to have been made on a fraudulent basis in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what guidance is given to local authorities on the investigation of allegations of fraudulent activity in school preference applications.

Jim Knight: Information on fraudulent applications for school places is not collected centrally and we do not provide guidance to local authorities on investigating such applications.

Schools: Crimes of Violence

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers in England have reported being the subject of violence perpetrated by  (a) a pupil and  (b) a parent or guardian of a pupil in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: Data are not collected centrally on the number of teachers who have been subject to violence.
	The Department does collect information on the number of exclusions from schools which occur following assault on an adult, this was collected for the first time for 2004/05. Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions due to assault against an adult, broken down by local authority, and covering the academic years 2004/05 and 2005/06 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The latest information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions due to assault against an adult, broken down by local authority has been published at the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml

Schools: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what reserves  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools hold, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: The latest available information on the revenue balances held by primary and secondary schools, broken down by local education authority, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Schools: Industrial Disputes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools were closed in each London borough as a result of industrial action on 16 and 17 July 2008.

Jim Knight: Government Departments with responsibility for services delivered via local authorities were provided with data by Government Offices about service closures resulting from industrial action on 16 and 17 July. That data indicates that across all London boroughs around 140 schools in total were closed on each day of industrial action. However the Department has no means of validating the data, except by incurring disproportionate costs or burdens.

Schools: Safety

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what guidance his Department issues to schools other than that relating to the Criminal Records Bureau checking procedures on the steps schools should take to ensure safe school environments for children;
	(2)  whether employees of businesses offering work experience to diploma students will be required to undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government issued comprehensive guidance for schools and other education institutions, Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education in November 2006 and this came into force in January 2007. This sets out the responsibilities of all local authorities, Schools and Further Education Colleges in England, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This guidance includes arrangements for safe and responsible recruitment of teachers and other staff in schools and further education colleges and sets out background and other checks required on new members of staff. The guidance is available online at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk
	and hard copies have been made available to schools and colleges.
	In addition, the Department have made available on the Teachernet website a range of guidance on health and safety and school security issues. This can be found at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/healthandsafety/
	The relevant guidance to employees of businesses offering work experience to students at Key Stage 4 and to 16-18 year olds is contained in Annex A and Appendix 14 of the Department's guidance Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. In principle, any person whose normal duties will include regularly clearing for, training, looking after or supervising a child in the workplace should be vetted and subject to CRB disclosures to ensure he or she is not disqualified from working with children or otherwise unsuitable to be responsible for them. It is intended to apply to people who are specifically designated to have responsibility for looking after, supervising or directly training a child or children throughout the placement.

Schools: Standards

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children aged 16 years or under are attending the schools identified as part of the National Challenge in each local education authority.

Jim Knight: The proportion of students aged 11-16 attending a school where fewer than 30 per cent. of students achieved five or more good GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2007 as a percentage of total students aged 11-16 attending schools in that local authority is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of 11 to 16-year-olds attending schools identified as being part of the National Challenge 
			  Local authority  Percentage 
			 Barking and Dagenham 21 
			 Barnet 7 
			 Barnsley 46 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2 
			 Bedfordshire 5 
			 Bexley 28 
			 Birmingham 29 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 13 
			 Blackpool 28 
			 Bolton 22 
			 Bournemouth 33 
			 Bracknell Forest 14 
			 Bradford 28 
			 Brent 13 
			 Brighton and Hove 11 
			 Bristol, City of 38 
			 Bromley 4 
			 Buckinghamshire 18 
			 Bury 5 
			 Calderdale 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 
			 Camden 0 
			 Cheshire 5 
			 City of London 0 
			 Cornwall 0 
			 Coventry 29 
			 Croydon 16 
			 Cumbria 12 
			 Darlington 27 
			 Derby 28 
			 Derbyshire 11 
			 Devon 4 
			 Doncaster 33 
			 Dorset 6 
			 Dudley 15 
			 Durham 10 
			 Ealing 10 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 0 
			 East Sussex 15 
			 Enfield 18 
			 Essex 15 
			 Gateshead 10 
			 Gloucestershire 11 
			 Greenwich 25 
			 Hackney 6 
			 Halton 20 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Hampshire 4 
			 Haringey 22 
			 Harrow 6 
			 Hartlepool 28 
			 Havering 5 
			 Herefordshire 6 
			 Hertfordshire 8 
			 Hillingdon 16 
			 Hounslow 20 
			 Isle of Wight 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 
			 Islington 34 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 
			 Kent 27 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 46 
			 Kingston upon Thames 11 
			 Kirklees 21 
			 Knowsley 49 
			 Lambeth 22 
			 Lancashire 15 
			 Leeds 28 
			 Leicester 22 
			 Leicestershire 0 
			 Lewisham 18 
			 Lincolnshire 19 
			 Liverpool 29 
			 Luton 0 
			 Manchester 36 
			 Medway 34 
			 Merton 25 
			 Middlesbrough 37 
			 Milton Keynes 17 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 32 
			 Newham 6 
			 Norfolk 10 
			 North East Lincolnshire 32 
			 North Lincolnshire 5 
			 North Somerset 7 
			 North Tyneside 12 
			 North Yorkshire 7 
			 Northamptonshire 21 
			 Northumberland 9 
			 Nottingham 31 
			 Nottinghamshire 20 
			 Oldham 36 
			 Oxfordshire 9 
			 Peterborough 10 
			 Plymouth 31 
			 Poole 12 
			 Portsmouth 28 
			 Reading 18 
			 Redbridge 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 20 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7 
			 Rochdale 12 
			 Rotherham 15 
			 Rutland 0 
			 Salford 35 
			 Sandwell 52 
			 Sefton 14 
			 Sheffield 30 
			 Shropshire 2 
			 Slough 8 
			 Solihull 24 
			 Somerset 5 
			 South Gloucestershire 3 
			 South Tyneside 7 
			 Southampton 20 
			 Southend-on-Sea 17 
			 Southwark 19 
			 St. Helens 16 
			 Staffordshire 3 
			 Stockport 0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 14 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 23 
			 Suffolk 7 
			 Sunderland 28 
			 Surrey 4 
			 Sutton 12 
			 Swindon 11 
			 Tameside 19 
			 Telford and Wrekin 39 
			 Thurrock 27 
			 Torbay 10 
			 Tower Hamlets 12 
			 Trafford 8 
			 Wakefield 10 
			 Walsall 46 
			 Waltham Forest 8 
			 Wandsworth 3 
			 Warrington 12 
			 Warwickshire 9 
			 West Berkshire 4 
			 West Sussex 7 
			 Westminster 15 
			 Wigan 12 
			 Wiltshire 7 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 
			 Wirral 21 
			 Wokingham 0 
			 Wolverhampton 31 
			 Worcestershire 5 
			 York 0

Schools: Standards

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which two regions had  (a) the highest performing state schools and  (b) the lowest performing state schools in the latest period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the possible relationship between school performance and average house prices in an area.

Jim Knight: There is no single measure of overall school performance across the different key stages. The individual indicators for each key stage are published at school and local authority level in the achievement and attainment tables found in the House of Commons Library.
	No assessment has been made of the possible relationship between school performance and average: house prices, in an area.

Schools: Uniforms

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England have school specific uniform.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 July 2008
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect this information. It is for the governing body of each school to decide whether to have a school uniform and set rules relating to appearance.

Secondary Education: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what dates Ministers in his Department have had meetings with the Leader of Essex County Council in respect of secondary school provision in Colchester constituency in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: Our records indicate that, during the last 12 months, there were DCSF ministerial meetings with the Leader of Essex county council on 17 July 2007 and on 21 April and 4 June this year. Those discussions included matters relating to school improvement in the local authority, including the need for urgent action to be taken to improve educational provision for pupils attending some schools in Colchester.

Secondary Education: Consultants

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on consultants working on the new 14 to 19 curriculum in each of the last 24 months.

Jim Knight: I cannot provide a month by month breakdown of this expenditure at proportionate cost, therefore, annual figures have been provided. To date, for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 the Department has paid 1,428 million, 2.014 million and 319,000 respectively to consultants working on Diploma implementation.

Sixth Form Education: Collective Worship

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department has provided to sixth-formers about their right to opt in and out of collective worship.

Jim Knight: The right of sixth-formers to excuse themselves from collective worship, as set out in section 55 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, was commenced in September 2007. We have updated guidance which is sent out to schools and governors, as well as guidance on our websites to reflect the position.

Special Educational Needs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much time it has taken on average for children to be placed in schools following the conclusion of special educational needs and disability tribunal appeals in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 July 2008
	This information is not collected centrally.
	We place great importance in ensuring local authorities comply with orders made by SENDIST within statutory time limits. The Secretary of State will not hesitate to use his powers to direct an authority as to the action they should take where he is aware an authority is failing to comply with a statutory duty.

Specialised Diplomas

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department  (a) spent on diplomas in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 and  (b) plans to spend on diplomas in (A) 2008-09, (B) 2009-10, (C) 2010-11 and (D) 2011-12, broken down by (1) development costs, (2) preparation costs, (3) direct and indirect delivery costs, (4) workforce development costs and (5) transport costs; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collate costs in exactly the categories requested by the hon. Member, so I will write to him shortly with further information and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

Specialist Schools

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  for what reasons the criteria for schools to become high performing specialist schools and entitled to a second specialism was changed;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of schools that no longer qualify for a second specialism following recent criteria changes; and what assessment he has made of the effect this change will have on  (a) school finances and  (b) his Department's finances.

Jim Knight: In 2008 we maintained the fundamental aspects of the 2007 high performing specialist school (HPSS) criteria but raised minimum thresholds for GCSE 5+ A*-C including English and mathematics. The reasons for these changes were: to reflect the introduction of the national challenge and the Government's target that all secondary schools should have at least 30 per cent. of their pupils achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and mathematics; to ensure that only the top third of re-designated schools qualify for the HPSS programme; and to make the best use of available resources.
	We estimate that as at the end of June 2008, the changes to the criteria for HPSS introduced this year impact on eight existing HPSS. These schools still have the opportunity to maintain the status if their 2008 results are above the necessary threshold. Specialist schools receive an additional 60,000 to 90,000 per year depending on the HPSS roles acquired. Schools that do not meet the criteria will retain funding for these additional roles until August 2009 to plan for any loss in funding. The impact on the Department's budget is neutral as we continue to identify new HPSS and remain on schedule to identify a total of 30 per cent. of all specialist schools to take on an additional HPSS role by 2011.

Specialist Schools: Standards

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many schools have high performing specialist status;
	(2)  in what percentage of high performing specialist schools at least 65 per cent. of pupils have been awarded five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and mathematics in all three of the last three years;
	(3)  if he will list, for each designated high performing specialist school  (a) its school context indicator,  (b) the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics in each of the last three years and  (c) the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs in any subjects in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: There are currently 600 high performing specialist schools in operation. Of these schools, 26 per cent. achieved at least 65 per cent. 5+ A*-C GCSEs including English and maths in all of the last three years. The list which shows each high performing specialist school, the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C GCSEs and the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C GCSEs including English and maths for each of the last three years has been placed in the Libraries.
	It also includes details of contextual value added scores and eligibility for free school meals, as indicators of school context.

Teachers' Pensions: Resource Accounting and Budgeting

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he will publish the 2007-08 resource accounts for the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Jim Knight: The 2007-08 resource accounts for the Teachers' Pension Scheme will be laid after the summer recess.

Teachers: Costs

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost to local authorities of employing  (a) supply teachers and  (b) permanently employed teachers.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold information centrally on the average cost to local authorities of employing supply teachers. However, from local authority Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DCSF, local authority maintained schools in England spent 872 million on supply teachers during the 2006-07 financial year (comprising of 433.3 million for directly employed supply teachers and 438.7 million for agency supply teachers).
	The average cost per regular full-time qualified classroom teacher in England as at March 2006 was 38,400. This includes superannuation and national insurance. The average is for all regular full-time qualified classroom teachers in England except head, deputy and assistant head teachers.

Teachers: Pay

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school teacher's salary was in each local authority area in each of the last two years.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Teachers: Stress

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has conducted into the effect of stress on  (a) teachers and  (b) the academic performance of pupils.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 July
	The Department has not commissioned research to examine the effect of stress on teachers or its effect on the academic performance of pupils. However, DfEE research on teacher absence published in 2000 (Health Retirement and absenteeism Amongst teachers, Research Report 235) found stress was the fourth most common reason for absence.
	We are aware of other research conducted by other organisations, such as a review conducted by the Institute of Education in 2004 on the impact of assessments and tests on student's motivation for learning.

Technology: Secondary Education

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what allocation his Department has made for expenditure on technology training for secondary school teachers in 2008-09.

Jim Knight: Technology is part of the design and technology curriculum. The DCSF is providing funding of around 1.8 million in 2008-09 for a number programmes that specifically support design and technology related teaching and learning in secondary schools.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Department maintains a record of requests for its publications in the Welsh language. It has not made a further recent assessment of the level of demand for its services, or those of its non-departmental bodies, provided in the Welsh language.

Work Experience: Accidents

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions the board of his Department and its predecessor discussed children's workplace accidents since 2002.

Jim Knight: holding answer  22 July  2008
	Since 2002, the Board of the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessor has not specifically discussed children's workplace accidents.
	Prevention of accidents has been given a new focus by this Government as it forms one of the key strands of work in Public Service Agreement 13 Improve children and young people's safety. A cross Government priority review of accident prevention has also just begun which was a key commitment in the Staying Safe: Action Plan (February 2008). The review is likely to make recommendations to Ministers in autumn 2000.
	Prior to a work experience placement a health and safety check will be carried out, either directly by a school or by an Education Business Partnership Organisation on
	behalf of a school. Advice, if it is needed, is given to the employer to help them take account of the young person's level of maturity. Health and safety of everyone on an employer's premises is the responsibility of the employer.
	The DGSF Board regularly considers progress against the work set out in all its PSAs.

Work Experience: Accidents

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what use his Department makes of children's work experience accident data in terms of  (a) accountability and ownership of risk and  (b) appropriate reporting procedures;
	(2)  how many children under the age of 16 years have been involved in accidents while undertaking vocational work experience since 2002.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 July 2008
	It is our policy that all young people have the opportunity to benefit from work experience and we estimate that around 95 per cent. do so, amounting to over half a million placements each year during key stage 4, the final two years of compulsory education. We have published a new standard for work experience which includes specific references to roles and responsibilities for the health and safety of young people. Records of accidents during school hours, including those occurring during work experience, are held by schools who have the primary duty of care. Employers are also responsible for everyone on their premises. The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect or hold such data centrally but anecdotal evidence suggests that, with such a massive volume of placements, the track record on safety is first rate and a credit to everyone involved.

Young People: Employment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of people who left school in each region of England and Wales in 2007  (a) have secured full-time employment,  (b) have secured part-time employment,  (c) are on a training scheme and  (d) are unemployed.

Jim Knight: Estimates of the number and proportion of 16-year-olds (that is, those in the academic year immediately following completion of compulsory education) participating in full-time education for each region in England at the end of 2007 are shown in the following tables, based on the Department's principal participation estimates, published in a Statistical First Release (SFR). Estimates from the Labour Force Survey from the first quarter of 2008 have then been applied to the SFR figures in order to estimate the number and proportion not in full-time education in  (a) full-time employment,  (b) part-time employment,  (c) Government employment and training programmes, and  (d) not employed. Participation rates for Wales are a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
	
		
			  Activity of young people of academic age 16 at end 2007, (Percentage) s 
			   Full-time education  Full-time employment  Part-time employment  Government employment and training programme( 1)  Not employed 
			 North East 74 8 3 7 9 
			 North West 75 8 2 3 13 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 72 12 3 3 11 
			 East Midlands 74 10 5 1 10 
			 West Midlands 77 7 1 3 12 
			 Eastern 79 8 3 0 10 
			 London 87 2 1 2 8 
			 South East 82 6 4 0 9 
			 South West 78 6 6 1 10 
			 England 78 7 3 2 10 
		
	
	
		
			  Activity of young people of academic age 16 at end 2007, (Number) 
			   Full-time education  Full-time employment  Part-time employment  Government employment  training programme( 1)  Not employed  Population 
			 North East 24,600 2,800 900 2,200 3,000 33,500 
			 North West 70,800 7,600 1,700 2,500 11,900 94,500 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 49,500 8,300 1,800 1,800 7,800 69,200 
			 East Midlands 43,200 5,700 2,900 700 6,100 58,600 
			 West Midlands 57,300 5,000 900 2,200 8,600 74,000 
			 Eastern 57,200 6,000 2,500  6,900 72.600 
			 London 75,300 1,700 600 1,400 7,200 86,200 
			 South East 88,900 6,400 4,000  9,500 108,800 
			 South West 52,400 3,700 3,800 400 6,900 67,200 
			 England 519,100 47,200 19,000 11,600 67,600 664,500 
			 (1) Note that young people on apprenticeships will be recorded as in full-time or part-time employment The Government employment and training programme category covers other work-based training and entry to employment.

Young People: Unemployed

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish statistics on those not in education, employment or training for the first quarter of 2008; what the schedule for publication of this statistical series is; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The labour force survey (LFS) NEET statistics for the first quarter of 2008 will be published on the Department's website at the same time as the quarter 2 figures, as part of the NEET quarterly brief. We intend to publish this by the end of August, following analysis of the raw quarter 2 LFS data, which will become publicly available on the 13 August.
	The NEET quarterly brief is not a National Statistics publication and does not have a pre-arranged set of publication dates. It is published voluntarily by the Department, usually one or two weeks after the LFS data becomes available, in order that the public has access to NEET figures from a variety of sources. The latest published NEET quarterly brief, including data up until quarter 4 2007, is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/index.shtml

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department have responsibility for the  (a) formulation and  (b) implementation of policy on abortion, broken down by pay band; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There are seven officials in the Department who, as part of their duties, have direct responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policy on abortion.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Senior Executive Officer 1 
			 Grade 7 1 
			 Grade 6 1 
			 Senior Civil Servant 1 1 
			 Senior Civil Servant 2 1 
			 Senior Civil Servant 3 1 
			 Permanent Secretary (Chief Medical Officer) 1

Academic Health Science Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to have defined the criteria for becoming an Academic Health Science Centre, as referred to on page 57 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: We are determined to enable the successful development of academic health science centres and will be working on the practical arrangements for the designation process in the coming months.

Academic Health Science Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with Monitor on proposals to develop academic health science centres; whether he expects such centres will apply for NHS Foundation Trust status; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has discussed academic health science centres with Monitor.
	As the NHS Next Stage Review sets out, a number of potential governance models have already emerged to suit local circumstances. The Government's approach will be broadly permissive; we are open to proposals for different forms of governance on a case-by-case basis, including, potentially, changing legislation where this would help an academic health science centre to achieve the optimal governance model to support its success. We will work with interested organisations on this.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of attendances at accident and emergency services were related to dental problems in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Information on the reasons for attendance at accident and emergency departments is not currently available centrally. Plans are in place for the Information Centre for health and social care to make an accident and emergency dataset available within hospital episode statistics in due course, which will include some information about reason for attendance. The publication is at an early stage of development and further work is ongoing to examine the level of detail and completeness of data. It is therefore unclear at the current time whether information on reasons for attendance will be part of the publication.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of admissions to hospital via accident and emergency departments were related to dental problems in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Total number of hospital admissions* via Accident  Emergency (AE), under the care of 'dental' consultants, as a proportion of all AE admissions, for years 1997-98 to 2006-07, national health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			   Total AE admissions under 'dental' consultants  All AE admissions  Proportion of admissions to hospital via AE which were under 'dental' consultants (percentage) 
			 2006-07 17,736 3,484,367 0.51 
			 2005-06 18,930 3,387,499 0.56 
			 2004-05 17,309 3,148,996 0.55 
			 2003-04 15,926 2,880,242 0.55 
			 2002-03 14,289 2,603,820 0.55 
			 2001-02 13,339 2,496,332 0.53 
			 2000-01 12,963 2,380,985 0.54 
			 1999-2000 12,998 2,315,986 0.56 
			 1998-99 12,250 2,229,459 0.55 
			 1997-98 12,478 2,124,198 0.59 
			  Notes:  Main Consultant Specialty Used: 140 = Oral surgery 141 = Restorative dentistry 142 = Paediatric dentistry (available from 1999-2000) 143 = Orthodontics 145 = Oral and maxillo facial surgery (available from 2004-05).  Finished admission episodes *The technical term for the data supplied is finished admission episodes. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. Admissions to hospital via AE include admission methods 21 and 28 (21 = Emergency: via AE services, including the casualty department of the provider/28 = Emergency: other means, including patients who arrive via the AE department of another healthcare provider).  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Specialty Care is needed when analysing HES data by specialty, or by groups of specialties (such as Acute). Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Ungrossed Data The data are ungrossed. This means no estimates (grossing factors) have been added to the data set to make up for any shortfalls or gaps in the data.   Source:  HES, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department has spent in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in current prices on communications campaigns aiming to raise the public's knowledge of units of alcohol in each year since 2005-06; what national communications campaigns have been launched since 3 December 2007; how these campaigns will be evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: On 19 May 2008, the Government launched the first major advertising campaign to raise awareness about units. The Units Know Your Limits campaign is intended to help people to estimate how much alcohol they drink. The spend to-date is as follows:
	Advertising costs (not including production) 2,670,000
	Print costs 62,146
	Research costs 165,755
	Total: 2,897,901.
	We have a number of tools in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the Units Know Your Limits campaign. They are:
	Throughout the campaign development we have tested potential messaging in independent qualitative creative development research to ensure creative material engages and resonates with the target audience;
	We have quantitative campaign tracking research in place which will measure pre to post shifts in awareness, understanding, attitudes and motivations towards alcohol consumption in response to the campaign and will continue to measure these factors throughout the campaign's life. We will be able to benchmark these results against other Government campaigns when establishing targets; and
	The campaign will also be evaluated in terms of how effectively it generates responses and requests for further information and advice through online, phone and face to face services. This data will again be benchmarked against other Government campaigns to aid target setting.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS assistance is available for  (a) treatment of people with alcohol addiction and  (b) families of those people.

Dawn Primarolo: There are four different types of treatment for alcohol addictionstructured counselling, community detoxification, with support from a GP, nurse or alcohol treatment worker, specialised residential services, for those who are not able to receive or not suitable for community based treatment, and self-help groups. The effectiveness of these treatments is dependent on the degree of motivation of the individual and the severity of their addiction.
	On 1 November 2005, the Department published the 'Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project' (ANARP) assessment of the alcohol treatment needs in England, with a main focus on the measurement of the gap between the demand for and provision of specialist alcohol treatment services in England at a national and regional level. Copies of this publication have been already placed in the Library.
	ANARP conducted their research over a period of six months between September 2004 and February 2005 and concluded that there was a large gap between the need for alcohol treatment and access to alcohol treatment.
	Aside from ANARP, data on those receiving alcohol treatment have not been routinely collected. However, on 1 April 2008 the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, which collects data on people in structured drug treatment in England, was expanded to include the collection of alcohol treatment data.
	Called the National Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (NATMS) this system will, in time, allow the Department, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs) to monitor alcohol treatment services in England. The latest data show that during the month of April 2008 there were 44,863 people receiving structured treatment for alcohol misuse.
	A new national health service indicator has been put into place to measure the change in the rate of hospital admissions for alcohol related harm from April 2008the first ever national commitment to monitor how the NHS is tackling alcohol health harms.
	This indicator is expected to encourage PCTs to invest in earlier identification of people who drink too much, linked to advice and support from GPs or other health care staffshown to be the best way of reducing the kind of 'everyday' drinking which over time leads to liver disease and other problems, including dependency.
	From 2007-08 PCTs have received an extra 15 million of additional funding to improve alcohol interventions. The National Audit Office will carry out a value for money audit of NHS spend on alcohol interventions and specialist treatment, with a report expected this autumn.
	In total 76 local authorities have chosen to set a target using National Indicator 31, rate of hospital admissions per 100,000 for alcohol related harm, of the National Indicator Set, as part of their local area agreement. The National Indicator Set allows progress against national priorities, agreed by Government, to be measured and strengthens the incentives for improved and closer partnership working.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who were  (a) under 14,  (b) 14 to 16 and  (c) 17 to 18 years old died from alcohol-related causes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) strategic health authority and (ii) primary care trust area.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people who were  (a) under 14,  (b) 14 to 16 and  (c) 17 to 18 years old died from alcohol-related causes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) strategic health authority and (ii) primary care trust area. (218379)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in persons aged  (a) under 14 years (table 1),  (b) 14 to 16 (table 2) and  (c) 17 to 18 (table 3) in strategic health authorities in England, for 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available). Figures for alcohol-related deaths in these age groups are not available for primary care trust areas.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause( 1) , persons aged under 14 years, strategic health authorities( 2) , England, 1997 to 2006( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Strategic health authority  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 5 4 2 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 East Midlands 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 East of England 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South East Coast 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause( 1) , persons aged 14-to-16 years, strategic health authorities( 2) , England 1997 to 2006( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Strategic health authority  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Midlands 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 East of England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South East Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Central 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 South West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause( 1) , persons aged 17-to-18 years, strategic health authorities( 2) , England, 1997 to 2006( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Strategic health authority  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 5 5 3 4 4 1 1 1 4 2 
			 North East 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 North West 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Midlands 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 
			 East of England 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 
			 London 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South East Coast 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South West 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 onwards. The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, are shown in the boxes below. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of deathInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-9 code(s) 
			 Alcoholic psychoses 291 
			 Alcohol dependence syndrome 303 
			 Non-dependent abuse of alcohol 305.0 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 425.5 
			 Alcoholic fatty liver 571.0 
			 Acute alcoholic hepatitis 571.1 
			 Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver 571.2 
			 Alcoholic liver damage, unspecified 571.3 
			 Chronic hepatitis 571.4 
			 Cirrhosis of liver without mention of alcohol 571.5 
			 Other chronic non-alcoholic liver disease 571.8 
			 Unspecified chronic liver disease without mention of alcohol 571.9 
			 Accidental poisoning by alcohol E860 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 2. Alcohol-related causes of deathInternational Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-10 code(s) 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 
			 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G31.2 
			 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 
			 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 
			 Alcoholic liver disease K70 
			 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 
			 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excluding Biliary cirrhosis) (1)K74 
			 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 
			 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 
			 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15 
			 (1) Excluding K74.3 to K74.5

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for alcohol-only misuse in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Dawn Primarolo: Prior to 1 April 2008 there was no routine collection of data on numbers receiving alcohol treatment in England. The Department commissioned an Alcohol Needs Assessment Review Project, which reported in 2005 that approximately 63,000 alcohol dependent individuals access treatment each year.
	On 1 April 2008, a National Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System begun operation to collect and report local and national information on the provision of alcohol treatment services in England. The first year's data will be reported in October 2009.

Ambulance Services: Standards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average journey time was for ambulances in  (a) each region and  (b) England in each of the last two years; and on how many times in each case this time was exceeded by more than 50 per cent.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The ambulance response data that is collected centrally, and which reports on numbers of calls received and the degree to which each ambulance trust in England met the national response time targets, is contained in the annual statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England. The latest version, covering data for 2008-09, was published in June 2008. Copies have been placed in the Library, and are also available on the Information Centre for Health And Social Care's website at
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs.
	The health service in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Arthritis: Drugs

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis;
	(2)  what plans are in place to make anti-TNF drugs more widely available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not made any such assessment. In October 2007, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published final guidance on the anti-TNF drugs adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in which it gave a restrictive recommendation. NICE is currently undertaking an appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of the sequential use of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE issued its final appraisal determination on 21 July 2008. Published NICE guidance is underpinned by a statutory three month funding direction.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast screening units there are in England; and how many of them had at least one full-field digital mammography set in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: There are 83 breast screening units in England. Latest figures show that, as at July 2008, 11 units are using full-field direct radiography for digital mammography.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas breast cancer screening has been extended to women aged between  (a) 47 and 50 and  (b) 70 and 73 years since April 2008, as referred to in paragraph 3.21 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: Detailed planning for the expansion of the breast screening programme began in April 2008, and a stakeholder conference, including front line staff, was held at the Royal College of Physicians on 8 May 2008. The Cancer Reform Strategy stated that the necessary phasing of this expansion will be carefully considered to ensure that the most useful epidemiological data can be gathered to inform future decisions about the programme. No consensus on the best way to achieve this was reached at the conference, so we hope to begin pilots in five breast screening sites in the autumn.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of eligible women were seen within the 36 month standard for breast cancer screening  (a) in England and  (b) by each breast screening unit in each quarter since June 2005.

Ann Keen: Information on breast screening coverage across England, broken down by breast screening unit for each quarter since June 2005, has been placed in the Library.
	Coverage is the percentage of eligible women who have had a recorded screening result at least once in the previous three years.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2008,  Official Report, column 987W, on breast cancer: screening, whether figures on the number of national interval cancers have been published.

Ann Keen: We expect the first national interval cancer figures to be published by the end of 2008.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards achieving the target that each mammography screening unit has a full field digital mammography capability by 2010; what plans he has for local breast screening units to have access to such facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Mrs. Hodgson) on 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 874W.

Cancer: Clinical Trials

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has undertaken with the National Cancer Research Network to encourage the inclusion of more older people in clinical trials; what steps he is taking to monitor progress in the involvement of older people in clinical trials; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2094W.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Cancer Director plans to publish his report on the uptake of cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, as referred to in paragraph 4.51 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: Work on the report is now under way and it is anticipated that it will be published by the end of the year.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by his Department with the  (a) pharmaceutical and  (b) biotechnology industries to monitor how use of anti-cancer medicines in the NHS in England compares to other European countries; what the results of this work have been; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: As part of the innovation package arising from the negotiations on a new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, the Government have committed to the development of new metrics for the uptake of clinically and cost-effective medicines starting with a number of medicines, including anti-cancer medicines, positively appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and to the publication of comparative international data.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department  (a) is providing in 2008-09 and  (b) plans to provide in 2009-10 on the social marketing campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of breast, lung and bowel cancers, as referred to in paragraph 3.53 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Department has funded the Improvement Foundation to test local approaches to raising awareness of the symptoms of breast, lung and bowel cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Funding planned for 2008-09 is 1,132,000. There are no plans at this time for funding for 2009-10.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what cancer areas the National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative intends to develop standardised messages to underpin awareness-raising campaigns, as referred to in paragraph 3.51 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, published on 3 December 2007; and what progress has been made in developing these messages.

Ann Keen: Key messages have been developed for lung cancer and prostate cancer, and are being reviewed by stakeholders. Key messages for ovarian cancer are currently being developed.
	In the immediate future, other areas to be considered are gynaecological cancers, lower gastro-intestinal cancers, skin cancer and head and neck cancers.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when his Department plans to begin conducting regular national surveys of cancer symptom awareness, as referred to in paragraph 3.47 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy;
	(2)  what progress is being made in  (a) developing measurement tools for cancer symptom awareness and  (b) developing and testing new interventions to raise awareness of cancer as referred to in paragraph 3.44 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The awareness measurement tool being developed by researchers funded by Cancer Research UK is expected to be ready to test in the autumn 2008, and will provide the basis for the first national survey of public awareness of cancer symptoms.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what form the Football Foundation's pilot programme to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, as referred to in paragraph 3.55 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, will take; when he expects the pilot programme to begin; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Planning for this programme of work has begun and the specification is being drafted. The programme will run for approximately 12 months but we have not agreed start/finish dates at this time.
	As detailed in paragraph 3.55 of the Cancer Reform Strategy an announcement will be made when this work begins.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which pilot projects the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative is supporting the evaluation, as referred to in paragraph 3.54 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Department is working with the National Cancer Research Institute and Cancer Research UK to develop an evaluation methodology.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has provided guidance to commissioners on how to commission cancer genetic services, as referred to in paragraph 2.53 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: As set out in paragraph 9.9 of the Cancer Reform Strategy, the Department is working with Macmillan Cancer Support to develop a chapter on commissioning cancer genetics services to be included in the Guidance on Commissioning Cancer Services. The guidance is based on the evaluations of the jointly funded pilots of delivering cancer genetics services in the national health service in England. The guidance is due in the autumn, with the chapter on genetics services available shortly thereafter, as some evaluation data is still awaited. Data will also be included in the accompanying web-based commissioning toolkit.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to begin auditing all patients newly diagnosed with cancer, as referred to in paragraph 3.61 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Royal College of General Practitioners has begun work on developing an audit methodology, which will be tested in late 2008/early 2009.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of all  (a) drug treatment and  (b) surgical treatments were delivered to cancer patients within 31 days in the latest period for which figures are available; when the 31-day treatment standard for cancer treatments begins, as referred to in paragraph 4.8 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and what the milestones are for meeting the 31-day treatment standard for radiotherapy services by December 2010;
	(2)  whether his Department has provided guidance on how patients with suspected cancer detected through national screening programmes enter the 62-day pathway, as referred to in paragraph 4.8 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy;
	(3)  what progress is being made towards ensuring that all localities have implemented arrangements ensuring that patients highly suspected of having cancers are managed on the 62-day pathway, as referred to in paragraph 4.8 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1504W, on cancer: health services, if he will issue guidance to primary care trusts instructing them that all treatments for which funding is initially denied but then granted on appeal must be given to patients within the 31-day cancer waiting-time standard.

Ann Keen: The currently available performance figures, reflecting the current waiting times standards, are published quarterly. Performance data for the extended standards that come into force at the end of this year will be available for publication next spring.
	Figures for the latest quarter available (January 2008 to March 2008) show that 99.5 per cent. of patients are first treated within one month of diagnosis. Thus the current standard has been met. This data is not currently broken down by treatment type, but the 99.5 per cent. achievement does cover all treatment types, including drug and surgical interventions. This data is available on the Department's website at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/
	An extension to the current cancer treatment standards, building on their success, was announced in December's Cancer Reform Strategy, with a timetable for delivery:
	the extension of the 31 day standard to include all surgical and drug treatments comes into force from December 2008, and for radiotherapy and all other treatments from December 2010this covers subsequent treatments (not just the first treatment, which is the current standard);
	the extension of the 62 day standard, putting patients referred from screening programmes onto the 62 day care pathway, comes into force from December 2008;
	the extension of the standard enabling consultant upgrades (of patients highly suspected of having cancers) onto the 62-day pathway comes into force from December 2008; and
	the extension of the two weeks standard (to include all patients referred with breast symptoms) comes into force from December 2009.
	The Department is developing guidance, in liaison with the NHS, on all of these new standards, which will be published shortly.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which cancer networks  (a) have met and  (b) are on target to meet the milestones contained in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's Improving Outcomes Guidance on supportive and palliative care for adults.

Ivan Lewis: All Cancer Networks have submitted plans which will meet the requirements for partial implementation by December 2008. The expectation is that they will be fully compliant by the end 2009 and progress will be monitored by the National Cancer Action Team and peer review.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards developing a course on effective face-to-face communication skills for children and young people with cancer, as referred to in paragraph 5.14 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and when he expects the course to be launched.

Ann Keen: A working group has now been established to develop:
	a group of course facilitators specialising in working with children and young people; and
	specific materials and trigger tapes to support the training of those working with children and young people.
	It is expected the first courses will run in spring 2009.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which primary care trust areas clinical nurse specialist provision has been found to be insufficient, as referred to in paragraph 5.47 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; what steps he is taking to encourage commissioners to address shortfalls in clinical nurse specialist provision; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Data on the number of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are not collected centrally. It is for Cancer Networks to work in partnership with strategic health authorities, NHS trusts and postgraduate deaneries to put in place a sustainable process to assess, plan and review their workforce needs and the education and training of all staff linked to local and national priorities for cancer. Commissioners should benchmark their local CNS provision against similar primary care trusts and take action where the CNS workforce is found to be insufficient.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which the NHS is providing advice on returning to work for patients of working age with cancer.

Ann Keen: The Department has not made an assessment of the provision by the national health service of advice on returning to work for patients of working age with cancer.
	The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, set out a number of initiatives to improve patient support services for those living with and beyond cancer which includes ensuring that patients receive high quality personalised information throughout their cancer journey. As part of this, the strategy makes clear that commissioners should make sure that information for people who work and have cancer is made available to patients on diagnosis and that advice on returning to work should be available for all patients of working age.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the report outlining the outcome of the event held in March 2008 on Making the Cancer Survivorship Initiative a Reality, as referred to in paragraph 5.61 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, which priority workstreams have been identified as part of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative; and what future work he expects the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative to undertake.

Ann Keen: Work on the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) is being co-led by the National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards, and the chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, Mr. Ciaran Devane, and the steering group held its first meeting in July.
	A summary of the ThinkTank event held in March 2008 has been published on Macmillan Cancer Support's website at:
	www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/Support_Material/Get_involved/Campaigns/Survivorship/survivorship_report.pdf
	We hope to launch the NCSI's work streams at the initiative's conference on 11 September 2008. The future work of the NCSI will be based around those work streams.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 5.73 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, whether an NHS Cancer Patient Experience Survey Programme has been established; and when he expects the first annual patient experience survey will  (a) take place and  (b) be published.

Ann Keen: To support and advise on the development of the national health service cancer patient experience survey programme (NHS CPESP), an advisory group has been established, chaired by Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director. The advisory group met for the first time on 29 May 2008. It is intended to hold the first annual patient experience survey in 2009-10. Experience from previous such surveys suggests that results will be made available 6 to 12 months after the survey takes place.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 6.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, what specific goals have been agreed by his Department for reducing cancer mortality in each cancer network; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: An advisory group has been set up to support and advise on the work of the newly established National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI). Work on agreeing challenging goals for reducing cancer mortality in every cancer network will be taken forward alongside the rest of the NCEI work programme.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of primary care trusts which have undertaken a local equality impact assessment, as referred to on page 86 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts, working together with their strategic health authorities, stakeholders and local cancer services, including cancer networks, to undertake local equality impact assessments and take appropriate steps to address local issues.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts  (a) have and  (b) have not reviewed current bed utilisation by (i) tumour group and (ii) the split between elective and emergency use, as referred to in paragraph 7.37 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The electronic commissioning toolkit, which is currently being developed and is expected to be launched during autumn 2008, will enable primary care trusts to review current bed utilisation for cancer patients as set out in the Cancer Reform Strategy.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing an inpatient management programme for cancer patients, as referred to in paragraph 7.39 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and when he expects the programme to be implemented nationwide.

Ann Keen: We expect the steering group for the in-patient management programme to be established in the autumn. The steering group will agree the programme's work streams and begin work to take these forward.
	The Cancer Action Team has held five events with cancer networks and primary care trusts to explore developing local programmes on in-patient management. These events have highlighted the following four potential work streams for the in-patient management programme to take forward:
	Management of elective surgery
	Management of elective oncology/haematology
	Management of emergency in-patient treatment for patients with a cancer diagnosis; and
	Management of emergency in-patient treatment for patients who are subsequently diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS trusts submit data to cancer registries in an electronic format; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all NHS Trusts do so by 2009, as referred to in paragraph 8.16 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, published on 3 December 2007.

Ann Keen: All trusts are providing some data to cancer registries in an electronic format. However, few trusts are currently submitting their entire registry dataset in an electronic format.
	The Cancer Reform Strategy's estimated date of 2009 for trusts to provide data in an electronic format has been affected by wider delays in the national programme for information technology. As a result of these delays, the National Contract for Acute Services now requires all trusts to provide data in an electronic format by March 2011. The Clinical Outcomes Programme Manager at the National Cancer Intelligence Network is currently leading on this work with the cancer registries, cancer networks and NHS trusts.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first annual report of the National Cancer Intelligence Network to be published.

Ann Keen: The first annual report of the National Cancer Intelligence Network is scheduled for publication in spring 2009.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the guide for cancer commissioners referred to in paragraph 9.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The guidance on commissioning cancer services is currently in development and publication is expected during autumn 2008. The guidance will set out the appropriate level for the commissioning of different cancer services and identify key questions a commissioner should ask when assessing the quality of a service.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 9.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, what progress is being made in developing  (a) an electronic commissioning toolkit for cancer services and  (b) service specifications for each cancer pathway; and when he expects to make each available for use in the NHS.

Ann Keen: A demonstration version of the electronic commissioning toolkit was launched to the NHS in June 2008. Following further development a final version of the toolkit is expected to be launched to the national health service during autumn 2008.
	Service specifications for each cancer pathway are still in development. A model generic services specification for colorectal cancer has been shared with cancer networks and a model colorectal pathway placed on the Map of Medicine. Cancer networks are each leading on the development of a service specification/model pathway for different tumours. This work is being facilitated by the National Cancer Action Team who are ensuring appropriate guidance around the sign off of the model pathways with Map of Medicine.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to ask the Care Quality Commission to undertake an improvement review of cancer services in 2009, as referred to in paragraph 9.25 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: We are working with the Healthcare Commission on assessing whether cancer services are delivering the Improving Outcomes Guidance. We will in due course work with the Care Quality Commission and this might involve asking it to undertake an improvement review.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health before which financial year he expects to include implementation of the Improving Outcomes Guidance in the national model contract, as referred to in paragraph 9.25 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The details have still to be agreed but the plan is to make appropriate changes to the standard contract from April 2009.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate for benchmarking purposes he has made of the level of spending on English cancer services compared with the spending of other countries.

Ann Keen: As part of our work on the Cancer Reform Strategy we looked at the latest information published by other countries about their expenditure on cancer services.
	This published information showed that England spends 5.6 per cent. of its public healthcare budget on cancer, compared to 7.7 per cent. in France, 9.2 per cent. in the United States and 9.6 per cent. in Germany.
	As stated in the Cancer Reform Strategy, we will continue to monitor how spending on spending on English cancer services compares with other countries.
	The Department regularly publishes information on cancer spend in the national health service in England through programme budgeting figures. Programme budgeting figures provide a breakdown by programmes of how NHS resources have been spent.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing a kitemark for good cancer facilities, as referred to in paragraph 11.18 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and when he expects it to be made available for use in the NHS.

Ann Keen: Following discussions with key stakeholders, it is anticipated that the kitemark for good cancer facilities will be made available by spring 2010.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects publication of the National Cancer Research Institute's five-year plan to take place, as referred to in paragraph 11.25 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The National Cancer Research Institute's Strategic Plan 2008-13 was published on 28 April 2008 and is available on the Institute's website at:
	www.ncri.org.uk

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has established a pilot training programme for laparoscopic surgery, as referred in paragraph 4.20 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and when he anticipates a training programme to be implemented nationwide.

Ann Keen: The pilot training programme for laparoscopic colorectal cancer was set up, following a tender exercise, by the national Cancer Action Team in January 2008. 10 training centres have been appointed, together with a national coordination centre, as follows:
	Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust (Training Centre and National Coordination Centre);
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Trust;
	Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust;
	North West London Hospitals NHS Trust;
	King's College Hospital And Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trusts;
	Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust;
	The Pelican centre and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Foundation Trust;
	Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust; and
	The South West Laparoscopic Consortium (Bristol, Yeovil and Plymouth).
	Imperial College London has been appointed to develop the underpinning educational and assessment materials. The pilot is due to run for a period of 18 months with an evaluation being carried out towards the end of the project.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information has been submitted to his Department by the NHS Cancer Action Team in each month since 3 December 2007.

Ann Keen: A list of the information received from the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) is not held centrally.
	The NCAT supports delivery of the Cancer Reform Strategy and it is in regular communication with the Department. Information that it provides to the Department includes:
	updates/progress reports on the areas of work it leads on;
	draft and final copies of guidance, reports and other documents it produces for the NHS
	feedback from cancer networks that might be of interest to the Department;
	general advice on implementation strategies and ad hoc queries; and
	information to contribute to parliamentary and ministerial business.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer treatments  (a) have and  (b) have not been considered by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence through the single technology appraisal process since 3 December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Since 3 December 2007, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the cancer treatments shown in the table. Information on cancer treatments not considered by NICE is not available.
	
		
			  Treatment  Condition  Process  Publication date 
			 Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) Mesothelioma Single technology appraisal January 2008 
			 Mabthera (rituximab) Relapsed or refractory Lymphoma (follicular non-Hodgkin's) Single technology appraisal February 2008 
			 Erythropoetin (alpha and beta) and darbepoetin Cancer-treatment induced anaemia Multiple technology appraisal May 2008 
			 Erbitux (cetuximab) Head and neck cancer Single technology appraisal June 2008

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) new cancer treatments and  (b) significant new licensed indications for existing cancer treatments have been referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) since 3 December 2007; and whether NICE (i) has and (ii) has not initiated a technology appraisal for each.

Ann Keen: The 15(th) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) work programme was referred to NICE on 14 December 2007 and included the following six cancer technology appraisals:
	lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma in people who have received at least one prior therapy;
	lapatinib in combination with letrozole for the first-line treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive breast cancer;
	capecitabine for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer;
	cetuximab for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer;
	cetuximab for the treatment of advanced non small cell lung cancer; and
	ixabepilone for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer.
	The 16(th) work programme was referred to NICE on 20 March 2008 and included the following five cancer technology appraisals:
	cetuximab in combination with irinotecan-containing regimens for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer following failure of oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy;
	cetuximab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for metastatic and/or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck;
	intensity modulated radiotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer;
	intensity modulated radiotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer; and
	intensity modulated radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer.
	The 17(th) work programme was referred to NICE on 11 June 2008 and included the following eight cancer technology appraisals:
	sorafenib, within its licensed indication for the first line systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma;
	eltrombopag within its licensed indication for the treatment of refractory chronic idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura;
	romiplostim within its licensed indication for the treatment of refractory chronic idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura;
	mifamurtide within its licensed indications as an adjunct to multi-agent chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma;
	temozolomide within its licensed indication for advanced and metastatic melanoma;
	dasatinib within its licensed indication for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia;
	topotecan within its licensed indication for the second-line treatment of small cell lung cancer; and
	dasatinib and nilotinib within their licensed indications for imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia.
	We are minded to refer the following nine cancer technology appraisals to NICE as part of the 18(th) work programme. NICE were asked on 20 March 2008 to consult stakeholders on the remits and scopes for these topics, and the results of that consultation are currently being considered.
	bortezomib within its licensed indication for the first line treatment of multiple myeloma;
	sunitinib within its licensed indication for the treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours refractory to imatinib;
	topotecan within its licensed indication for the treatment of recurrent and carcinoma of the cervix;
	trabectedin within its licensed indication for the treatment of advanced metastatic soft tissue sarcoma;
	pemetrexed within its licensed indication for the first line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer;
	rituximab within its licensed indication for the first line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia;
	rituximab within its licensed indication for the relapsed treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia;
	azacitidine within its licensed indication for the treatment of high risk patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia; and
	capecitabine within its licensed indication for advanced gastric cancer.
	We have recently agreed revisions to the topic selection process to implement the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) commitments and NICE's 19 work programme will be the first to be referred to NICE under the revised arrangements. NICE is currently consulting on the remit and scope for the following 13 cancer treatments as part of the 19(th) work programme, following which Ministers will be asked to make a final decision on referral of these topics to NICE.
	vorinostat for cutanieous T-cell lymphoma;
	bevacizumab in combination with fluouropyrimidine for metastatic carcinoma of the colon and rectum;
	sunitinib for metastatic breast cancer;
	aflibercept for advanced chemo-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer;
	arsenic trioxide for promyelocytic leukaemia;
	temsirolimus for mantle cell lymphoma relapsed and/or refractory;
	bevacizumab for breast cancer;
	erlotinib in combination with bevacizumab for advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer;
	rituximab for follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
	vandetanib for thyroid cancer;
	vandetanib for non small cell lung cancer;
	trastuzumab for gastric cancer; and
	trabectedin for relapsed ovarian cancer.
	NICE commences work on technology appraisals once a final referral has been made by the Department.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when chemotherapy providers will begin returning an agreed dataset on all patients receiving chemotherapy, as referred to in paragraph 4.52 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; what information is captured by the dataset; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group to have defined the information on chemotherapy to be submitted by NHS trusts to cancer registries.

Ann Keen: A small working group is currently scoping the requirements for chemotherapy data alongside a comparison of data items for chemotherapy that are already included within the National Cancer Dataset. Any dataset agreed will also include the requirements of the cancer registration dataset.
	It is anticipated, subject to testing and approval by the NHS Information Standards Board, that implementation could begin by the end of 2009.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the robustness of chemotherapy cost data submitted as part of the 2007-08 NHS reference cost collection.

Ann Keen: No assessment has been made. 2007-08 NHS reference cost data has not yet been collected.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in each  (a) cancer network and  (b) strategic health authority area received (i) chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer and (ii) chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in each year since 1997-98.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 1 September 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many patients in each  (a) cancer network and  (b) strategic health authority area received (i) chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer and (ii) chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in each year since 1997-98.
	The latest year for which data are available on the national cancer registry database, which ONS operates on behalf of the Department of Health, is 2005. Tables 1 and 2 show the number of cases of small and non-small cell lung cancer, newly diagnosed in each of the years 1997-2005 in the specified geographical areas, initially receiving chemotherapy. In 55 per cent. of lung cancer cases in the database, either no treatment information was recorded or patients were recorded as having had no treatment. 10 per cent. of cases was recorded as receiving more than one treatment.
	
		
			  Table:  1  Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of small cell lung cancer( 1)  receiving chemotherapy treatment( 2) , by strategic health authority and Cancer Network( 3) , England, 1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 1,614 1,785 1,896 2,035 1,836 1,647 1,634 1,750 1,727 
			  Strategic Health Authority  
			 North East 131 248 259 255 201 210 218 223 227 
			 North West 257 219 282 296 248 148 239 264 248 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 275 304 272 315 273 298 272 271 253 
			 East Midlands 92 99 116 129 101 97 94 91 85 
			 West Midlands 145 162 180 192 180 159 141 167 156 
			 East of England 172 200 188 193 213 170 159 203 173 
			 London 228 235 231 291 250 220 228 200 230 
			 South East Coast 118 142 132 137 123 136 116 130 131 
			 South Central 66 67 77 112 96 75 68 56 77 
			 South West 130 109 159 115 151 134 99 145 147 
			  Cancer network  
			 3 Counties 23 19 17 27 26 24 20 32 26 
			 Anglia 83 94 85 98 103 90 83 110 96 
			 Arden 28 34 38 39 32 24 43 43 25 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire 38 29 51 29 36 29 24 60 50 
			 Central South Coast 6 12 29 34 34 23 12 22 22 
			 Derby/Burton 13 9 12 12 14 13 13 11 9 
			 Dorset 11 8 12 17 31 23 12 26 27 
			 Essex 49 62 59 56 64 55 47 59 48 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire 194 140 140 156 141 67 138 161 141 
			 Greater Midlands 42 56 71 78 71 75 47 59 81 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast 59 60 68 63 51 58 64 70 65 
			 Kent and Medway 63 55 65 58 52 57 47 49 62 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria 48 63 58 67 65 64 81 88 81 
			 Leicestershire Northants and Rutland 37 45 51 39 42 33 29 38 34 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire 3 2 65 53 26 11 5 6 14 
			 Mid Trent 41 39 41 54 33 40 44 37 26 
			 Mount Vernon 33 31 34 31 33 17 21 25 17 
			 North East London 50 58 54 62 52 48 62 45 40 
			 North London 36 59 53 50 46 46 39 37 44 
			 North of England 154 273 286 284 220 227 248 234 247 
			 North Trent 40 40 36 51 41 50 35 34 35 
			 Pan Birmingham 65 59 61 62 62 45 38 40 36 
			 Peninsula 62 58 78 46 62 65 45 35 50 
			 South East London 64 60 52 79 59 50 50 44 74 
			 South West London 51 49 58 72 55 46 47 55 48 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire 24 30 32 35 35 29 25 34 30 
			 Sussex 27 47 27 37 31 38 37 34 29 
			 Thames Valley 59 65 57 85 68 57 66 50 62 
			 West London 41 28 30 42 55 48 41 36 44 
			 Yorkshire 170 201 176 219 196 195 171 176 164 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (2) More than one type of treatment was recorded for some cases. (3) Cancer Network boundaries as at January 2008.  Source:  Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of non-small cell lung cancer( 1)  receiving chemotherapy treatment( 2) , by strategic health authority and Cancer Network( 3) , England, 1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 1,377 1,745 2,124 2,524 2,78 2,841 3,38 4,202 4,632 
			  Strategic Health Authority  
			 North East 59 136 137 196 229 271 304 365 462 
			 North West 141 215 351 354 358 225 409 774 671 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 112 148 116 183 230 293 395 438 539 
			 East Midlands 61 92 128 172 144 144 159 227 236 
			 West Midlands 194 224 277 262 267 297 309 343 393 
			 East of England 136 168 186 250 311 406 427 437 555 
			 London 348 386 430 493 514 541 661 707 697 
			 South East Coast 158 172 195 263 281 310 309 392 364 
			 South Central 54 81 114 129 136 123 121 161 257 
			 South West 114 123 190 222 312 231 289 358 458 
			  Cancer network  
			 3 Counties 8 12 24 19 41 25 46 68 88 
			 Anglia 59 88 101 152 167 220 242 269 314 
			 Arden 30 44 30 55 48 71 67 91 38 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire 37 42 58 72 88 65 65 125 161 
			 Central South Coast 14 25 62 54 56 53 25 34 87 
			 Derby/Burton 6 8 8 2 6 16 21 43 36 
			 Dorset 5 7 27 30 48 46 64 72 83 
			 Essex 50 49 52 68 101 124 130 114 151 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire 113 173 198 220 255 125 265 576 479 
			 Greater Midlands 34 54 80 80 112 96 128 120 175 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast 19 21 35 51 62 68 87 103 116 
			 Kent and Medway 83 93 88 136 119 152 130 177 155 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria 29 34 62 46 57 58 104 153 147 
			 Leicestershire Northants and Rutland 37 52 69 112 85 79 67 88 102 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire 0 7 87 83 37 21 13 17 21 
			 Mid Trent 15 26 37 44 38 39 62 85 68 
			 Mount Vernon 13 17 24 21 28 33 39 34 65 
			 North East London 65 59 88 118 126 130 161 161 145 
			 North London 70 79 95 71 89 119 120 123 129 
			 North of England 61 139 143 209 244 294 335 409 503 
			 North Trent 9 17 22 31 38 49 70 74 78 
			 Pan Birmingham 123 117 152 118 93 108 88 76 127 
			 Peninsula 68 70 79 102 133 97 115 109 144 
			 South East London 83 106 85 100 133 140 145 167 185 
			 South West London 113 112 119 157 125 122 144 146 144 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire 38 43 60 64 77 81 91 98 90 
			 Sussex 25 18 34 41 62 55 71 92 91 
			 Thames Valley 42 57 68 84 88 81 108 146 193 
			 West London 41 61 64 76 83 82 128 152 148 
			 Yorkshire 87 115 73 108 143 192 252 280 369 
			 1 Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 2 More than one type of treatment was recorded for some cases. 3 Cancer Network boundaries as at January 2008.  Source:  Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	continued

Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work the NHS Cancer Screening Programme has undertaken since 3 December 2007 in sharing best practice in improving accessibility to screening for at-risk groups, as referred to in paragraph 3.10 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, published on 3 December 2007.

Ann Keen: NHS Cancer Screening Programmes and the university of Leeds are currently working on a research project to provide guidance for communicating screening information to women from minority ethnic and low income groups. This guidance will be made available throughout both the breast and cervical screening programmes.

Cancer: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people suspected of having cancer were treated within  (a) two weeks and  (b) one month of referral (i) in 2005 and (ii) in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: In England during the year 2005-06, 99.7 per cent. of patients were first seen by a specialist within two weeks, following an urgent referral for suspected cancer from a general practitioner, and 95.8 per cent. of patients started treatment within one month of receiving a cancer diagnosis.
	In the year 2007-08 (the most recent for which data is available), 99.9 per cent. of such patients were first seen by a specialist within two weeks, following an urgent referral for suspected cancer from a general practitioner, and 99.6 per cent. of such patients started treatment within one month of receiving a cancer diagnosis.

Cardiovascular System: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce vascular health checks as referred to on page 35 of his Department's document High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432; if he will publish the projected number of people  (a) being offered and  (b) accepting vascular screening checks in each of the next five years; what funding he plans to provide centrally in support of the programme in each of the next five years; what contractual mechanisms he plans to use to encourage (i) GPs, (ii) pharmacies and (iii) community clinics to offer vascular health checks; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: At full implementation, there will be 3 million invitations nationally for vascular checks. Assuming 75 per cent. uptake of invitations, this would lead to an estimated 2.2 million actual checks carried out. Existing data demonstrates that approximately 1.1 million checks are already done each year, leaving 1.1 million additional checks being performed each year. The programme will begin roll-out from 2009-10 and will be at full implementation by 2012.
	Cost estimates of the programme can be found in the Technical Consultation. The cost estimates are based on scenarios fed into the economic evaluation model and should not be taken as final estimates of the cost of the policy. The final costs will depend on the delivery route for the programme and roll-out plans. These are being developed via engagement with stakeholders during the summer and autumn. We expect to carry out further modelling to support the choice of delivery and roll-out plans.
	Implementing the proposals in the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, is core business for the national health service. The NHS budget for England for 2008-09 is 96 billion and will rise to 110 billion by 2010-11. The proposals will be funded from within that settlement. Some proposals require central funding to ensure effective implementation. Central funding of 150 million in 2009-10 and 400 million in 2010-11 has been made available for this purpose.
	The overall cost of the vascular checks programme is currently estimated to be from 180 million to 243 million per annum at full implementation.
	There is a range of contractual mechanisms available and decisions on which will be most suitable will be taken on the basis of the discussions with the NHS and other stakeholders that are currently taking place.

Cataracts: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for treatment of cataracts in NHS hospitals were in  (a) 2005 and  (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many treatments were provided (i) in 2005 and (ii) in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Median days waited for cataract operations and number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where a cataract operation was the main or secondary procedure in both 2005-06 and 2006-07 in NHS Hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the English NHS 
			   Median days waited  FCEs 
			 2005-06 68 302,876 
			 2006-07 69 305,612 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to increase participation of women aged 25 to 35 years in the cervical screening programme, as referred to in paragraph 3.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and what his latest estimate is of the proportion of 25 to 35-year-old women participating in the cervical screening programme  (a) in 2008 and  (b) in the previous five years.

Ann Keen: NHS Cancer Screening Programmes is commissioning a 250,000 Improvement Foundation project to tackle the falling participation of women aged 25 to 35 in the NHS cervical screening programme. Five primary care trusts have been invited to participate in this project.
	Information on the proportion of women aged 25 to 35 participating in the NHS cervical screening programme in 2008 is not yet available.
	National policy for the NHS cervical screening programme is that eligible women aged 25 to 49 are to be screened every 3.5 years. The following table shows the percentage of eligible women aged between 25 and 34 years with a cervical screening test result in the previous 3.5 years for the last five years.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Coverage  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Women aged 25-29 65 64.1 62.5 60.8 59.8 
			 Women aged 30-34 71 70.2 68.9 68.5 68.1 
			  Note:  Coverage is the percentage of eligible women with a cervical screening test result in the previous 3.5 years.   Source:  ONS/The Information Centre, Cervical Screening Programme: England 2006-07, Table 1.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to return cervical screening test results to women following a test; and what advice has been issued to the NHS on achieving the two-week turnaround time standard on cervical screening results, as referred to in paragraph 3.14 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The information requested for England in 2006-07, the latest year for which figures are available, is shown in the table for the 93 per cent. of local programmes where the result letter is sent by a primary care organisation:
	
		
			  Cervical screening programme: time from screening to availability of result in England, 2006-07 
			   Percentage 
			 Up to 4 weeks 48 
			 4 weeks up to 6 weeks 26 
			 6 weeks up to 8 weeks 14 
			 8 weeks up to 10 weeks 7 
			  10 weeks up to 12 weeks 4 
			 Over 12 weeks 2 
			  Source:  Cervical Screening programme England 2006-07 (National Statistics and The Information Centre). 
		
	
	Advice to the national health service (NHS, Gateway number: 9782) on achieving the new 14 day turnaround time for the results of cervical screening was issued in The Week (issue 42, 18-24 April 2008). The advice asked strategic health authorities to bid for their local cervical screening services to receive support in achieving the 14 day turnaround time from NHS Improvement: Cancer as part of a three year rolling programme. Nine local screening services have now been identified as part of wave 1 of the programme, and NHS Improvement: Cancer will begin working with them shortly.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women he estimates participated in the cervical screening programme in the last year for which figures are available in each primary care trust area in England.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) on 31 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 617-36W, which provides information on cervical screening coverage across England, broken down by primary care trust.
	Coverage is the percentage of eligible women who have had a cervical screening test result in the previous five years.

Children: Domestic Accidents

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each region were admitted to hospital for accidents in the home in each of the last five financial years, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) type of accident.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. Information on admissions to hospital for accidental injury is available but the number of admissions for accidents in the home cannot be reliably identified.

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at which five sites an extension to the bowel cancer screening programme to men and women aged between 70 and 75 years is being piloted, as referred to in paragraph 3.32 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The five sites piloting the bowel cancer screening extension to men and women aged 70 to 75 are Wolverhampton, Hull, South Devon, St. Marks (London) and Norwich. The first of these pilots are due to begin in September 2008.

Deca-BDE

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has held recent discussions on the human safety of Deca-BDE with the French Government; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Secretary of State has not held bilateral discussions about the human safety of Deca-BDE with the French Government in its capacity as Health Rapporteur. The assessment has been discussed at meetings of the European Competent Authorities for implementation of the Existing Substances Regulations. Officials from the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive have represented the UK throughout the risk assessment process. The Department, through toxicology experts in the Health Protection Agency, is routinely consulted on human health aspects.
	Further information is still being collected by the French rapporteur in relation to human health before a final conclusion can be reached. The European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is now in force; the risk assessment process has now been transferred to that system. In the meantime, monitoring by the Health Protection Agency continues to ensure that prompt action can be taken if new evidence suggests that human health may be at risk.

Dental Health: Children

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what indicators his Department uses to measure dental health in children; and what the figures for each indicator were for each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: We use the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) in children resident in the area of each primary care trust. The information is collected from decennial national child dental health surveys and more frequent local surveys of five and 12-year-olds co-ordinated by the Public Health Observatory for the North West in collaboration with the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Results from the last national survey conducted in 2003 are available on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/children/dentalhealth/
	Information from the other surveys is available at:
	http://www.bascd.org/annual_survey_results.php
	Since 1993, levels of tooth decay have fallen in most age groups. The most significant change has been in older children with a reduction in DMFT in 12-year-old children from 1.4 to 0.7, which means that this age group now has the best oral health in Europe.

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what internal  (a) research papers and  (b) reports his Department has produced or commissioned on NHS dentistry in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Dental Services

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) full-time equivalent dentists on primary care NHS lists in England and  (b) people not registered with an NHS dentist there are in each strategic health authority area; and what the population is within each strategic health authority area.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	The numbers of dentists on open national health service contracts, in England, as at 31 March 2007, are available in Table El of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006/07 report. This is the latest information available.
	This report has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. Instead the number of patients receiving NHS dental services, 'patients seen' over a 24-month period is monitored and reported regularly.
	Information on the numbers of patients seen by an NHS dentist in England, in the 24-month period ending 31 December 2007, and the proportion of the population this represents is available in Tables CI and C2 respectively of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007 report. Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3.
	Both of the aforementioned reports have been published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	The population within each SHA area is given in the following table. The figures have been rounded to follow Office for National Statistics' (ONS) guidelines.
	
		
			  Mid-2006 population estimates using the ONS' 2007 methodology (rounded to the nearest 100) 
			  SHA  Mid-2006 population estimate 
			 North East 2,555,700 
			 North West 6,853,200 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,142,400 
			 East Midlands 4,364,200 
			 West Midlands 5,366,700 
			 East of England 5,606,600 
			 London 7,512,400 
			 South East Coast 4,248,300 
			 South Central 3,989,500 
			 South west 5,124,100 
			 England 50,762,900 
			  Note:  The sum of the SHA figures does not equal the England total due to rounding.  Source:  ONS. 
		
	
	These are the latest ONS mid-year estimates currently available. They are the population figures used for the periods ending March, June, September and December 2007 in Table C2 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007 report aforementioned, but not the period ending March 2006, which also appears in that table. This is because each period is based on the latest population estimates available at the time for the respective period. Further details are contained within the footnotes. Note also that the figures in Table C2 are based on un-rounded population estimates.

Dental Services: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many treatments in each treatment band were carried out by NHS dentists in the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The classification of courses of treatment (CoTs) into bands was introduced with the new dental contractual arrangements on 1 April 2006. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested prior to April 2006.
	Information on the number of CoTs by treatment band, in England, for the first two quarters of 2007-08 is available in Tables Al and A2 of Annex 4 of the report NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007. Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Information for quarter three of 2007-08 is available in Table Al of Annex 3 of the aforementioned report. Information is provided by SHA and by PCT. This report, published on 5 June 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3
	Information on the number of CoTs by treatment band, in England, for 2006-07 is available in Table A2 of Annex 3 of the report NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07. This shows the total number of CoTs for the year, by treatment band and is provided by SHA and by PCT. The report, published on 23 August 2007, has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	Information for the full year 2007-08, including updated quarterly information to account for CoTs reported late, will be available in the report NHS Dental Statistics: 2007-08, which is due to be published by the Information Centre for health and social care on 21 August 2008.
	Under the old dental contractual arrangements, in place up to and including 31 March 2006, information on the number of claims by treatment type is available in Annex D of NHS Dental and Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. Information is provided for 2005 and 2006, by SHA. This information is not comparable with data collected under the new dental contractual arrangements. The report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity
	The aforementioned reports have been published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Dental Services: Fees and Charges

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS dental patients in each region paid in charges in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The National Health Service Information Centre for health and social care published NHS Expenditure for General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services: England 1997/98-2005/06 on 26 March 2008. This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalexpend1997to2006
	The report includes information on primary dental care expenditure by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) for 1997-98 to 2005-06 at tables Al and B1 of Annex 3. Table A1 relates to 'gross' expenditure and table B1 relates to 'net' expenditure. 'Gross' expenditure refers to the full cost of the payments recorded; 'net' expenditure reflects the cost of these payments to the NHS after the deduction of income from NHS dental charges paid by patients.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. Further notes to aid interpretation of the information are shown in the 'Contents and Notes' page of Annex 3.
	Information on NHS patient charges in England in 2006-07 is available in table D3 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006/07 report. Information is provided by PCT and SHA. This information is based on the new contractual arrangements introduced on 1 April 2006.
	This report has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	Patient charge data for 2007-08 is expected to be included in the NHS Information Centre report on NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006/07, due to be published on 21 August 2008.

Dental Services: Lancashire

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices in North Lancashire Primary Care Trust are accepting new NHS patients.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected centrally on the number of dentists taking on new patients. The hon. Member may wish to approach the chief executive of North Lancashire primary care trust which might hold this information.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions his Department has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not instruct the Treasury Solicitor in the appellate courts, preferring instead to conduct nearly all domestic litigation with the help of in-house lawyers.
	Information on the number of times the Department itself has sought leave to appeal to the House of Lords, and on the number of times applications have been rejected, could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Arm's Length Management Organisations

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many arm's length bodies his Department  (a) had at the beginning of 2008 and  (b) will have at the end of 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department had 25 arm's length bodies on 1 January 2008 and there will be 24 on 31 December 2008.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not undertaken any formal study to estimate of the number of computer devices left on overnight in departmental premises and therefore cannot provide the cost of leaving these devices on overnight in each of the last five years.
	Staff are instructed to shut down their personal computers (PCs) at the end of the day and this automatically switches off the power. The PC monitor has to be manually switched off but if this is not done, the monitor goes into very low power mode until the PC is switched on again. Printers and other shared peripheral devices connected to the network are not switched off overnight but automatically go to low power mode after a short period of inactivity both during the day and overnight. The Department will shortly be deploying a network tool that identifies PCs left switched on outside office hours and forces the equipment to shut down safely.
	All computer equipment procured by the Department meets or exceeds Sustainability Mandatory Standards ('Quick Wins') 2007. The 'Quick Wins' are a set of minimum environmental standards covering a range of commonly-purchased goods, including information technology equipment. The standards relate to characteristics such as energy consumption, recycled content, and biodegradability.

Departmental Correspondence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what categories are used by his Department to classify  (a) ministerial and  (b) other correspondence it receives; and how many letters were received in each category in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministerial correspondence is categorised as  (a) letters and emails received from MPs and significant public figures;  (b) letters and e-mails received from other members of the public and addressed to Ministers. Other correspondence consists of letters and e-mails addressed directly to officials. Between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 we received 95,112 letters and e-mails categorised as ministerial correspondence. We do not collect centrally the amount of correspondence in the second category.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) officials in his Department and  (b) employees of (i) agencies and (ii) other bodies reporting to his Department were (A) dismissed and (B) disciplined for matters related to their conduct in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The numbers of staff in the Department and its agencies who were dismissed or disciplined for matters related to their conduct in the last two years are presented in the following table:
	
		
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			   Dismissed  Disciplined  Dismissed  Disciplined 
			 The Department 0 7 0 6 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 1 3 1 0 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency 1 3 0 1 
		
	
	Providing information for other bodies reporting to the Department would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 862W, on departmental freedom of information, if he will place in the Library a copy of the information provided where the request was  (a) agreed to and answered in full and  (b) agreed to and answered in part; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Copies of the information requested by the hon. Member have been placed in the Library.

Departmental ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his IT  (a) systems and  (b) services conform to the ISO 27001 standard.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's IT systems and managed services conform to the principles of the ISO 27001 information security standard.

Departmental Industrial Accidents

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by his Department towards its target of a 20 per cent. reduction in the incidence of accidents by 2010 from the 1996 baseline.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department, in partnership with stakeholders including other Government Departments, has been working to prevent accidental injury and to promote safety. For example, the national service frameworks for children and older people, through their standards for health and well-being, recognise the importance of unintentional injury and the need for prevention initiatives led by the national health service in partnership with local authorities. The Department has also asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop a suite of guidance on the prevention of unintentional injury in children under 15 years old. It is also working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families on its cross-government public service agreement to improve children and young people's safety.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies spent 33.09 million on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.
	The top three campaigns, in terms of expenditure, in this period were smoking12.7 million, tobacco legislation5.9 million and sexual health3.46 million.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: To calculate the costs of design and hosting for all public information websites from 1997 to date would incur disproportionate costs, as this information is not held centrally.
	The Department does not record design costs separately from other aspects of print production for public information campaigns. Calculations to arrive at a separate design figure would incur disproportionate costs.
	Total costs for broadcast media are as follows:
	
		
			
			 1997-98 2,024,207 
			 1998-99 7,608,024 
			 1999-2000 14,981,014 
			 2000-01 22,227,384 
			 2001-02 17,270,643 
			 2002-03 19,244,549 
			 2003-04 35,418,249 
			 2004-05 36,237,741 
			 2005-06 29,700,128 
			 2006-07 27,803,553 
			 2007-08 28,358,908

Departmental Official Visits

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many official visits each Minister in his Department has made to  (a) dental practices,  (b) opticians,  (c) pharmacies,  (d) general practitioner surgeries,  (e) care homes,  (f) community hospitals,  (g) genito-urinary medicine clinics,  (h) ambulance trusts,  (i) mental health trusts,  (j) rehabilitation services and  (k) stroke units since May 2007; and what the purpose of each visit was.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested has been placed in the Library. This also corrects the information given to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1209W.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's central accounts for the last three years show the following expenditure on new furnishings and fittings:
	
		
			   000 
			 2005-06 48 
			 2006-07 2,887 
			 2007-08 696 
		
	
	The Department has specified verifiable, legal and sustainable sources for the provision of timber and timber products purchased by this Department over the last five years, and will specify Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade licensed timber products for future purchases when it becomes available.
	The following was the net cost to the Department of leasing new vehicles in the relevant period:
	
		
			   000 
			 2005-06 17 
			 2006-07 37 
			 2007-08 32 
		
	
	Expenditure on art is not separately identified in the Department's accounts.

Departmental Records

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to establish mystaffspace, as referred to on page 71 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; what the cost of establishing mystaffspace will be; what assessment he has made of the effect on the confidentiality of staff records of establishing mystaffspace; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Precise implementation timing and cost details associated with mystaffspace will be established in line with the experience of and lessons from developing the prototype. A programme is now being initiated and planning will include the business case, and the development and implementation plans that expect a staged roll-out over the next two years.
	The security controls and safeguards to prevent unrestricted or uncontrolled access, via mystaffspace, to personal staff records will be at least as secure as those systems to which it might provide access.

Departmental Responsibilities

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which projects his Department has commissioned from  (a) think tanks and  (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid.

Ben Bradshaw: This information could not be procured without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Retirement

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has a standard retirement age; and how many employees have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has a standard retirement age of 65, which was introduced on 1 October 2006. It works on the assumption that staff will not wish to work beyond the age of 65, but welcomes requests from those who wish to carry on working. Since 1 October 2006, no requests have been refused. The fairly recent introduction of a standard retirement age of 65 means that before 1 October 2006 staff were not asked or expected to retire on reaching 65.

Diabetes: Children

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average ratio of children to paediatric diabetes specialist nurses in  (a) Leeds and  (b) England.

Ann Keen: The information is not collected centrally. It is for local national health service organisations to deploy specialist nurses according to their local needs.

Diabetes: Children

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts in Leeds have carried out a local needs assessment on the development of services for children and young people with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Responsibility for developing services for children and young people with diabetes rests with the national health service, and it is for primary care trusts to commission services that meet the needs of their local population.
	In April 2007, the Department of Health published 'Making Every Young Person with Diabetes Matter', the report of the Children and Young People with Diabetes working group, which looked at ways to improve diabetes services for children and young people. This report includes guidance to commissioners on the planning, design and provision of diabetes services for children and young people. A copy of this document has already been placed in the Library.
	The Diabetes Commissioning Toolkit, published in November 2006, describes the importance of carrying out a health needs assessment for local diabetes populations.

Diabetes: Health Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether World-Class Commissioning will ensure that commissioners consider the rights and needs of children when developing appropriate diabetes services.

Ben Bradshaw: The intent of the world class commissioning programme is to strengthen commissioners to improve health outcomes across all health needs and conditions in accordance with the needs of local populations. The vision is to achieve better health, better care and better value for all.
	For children this means:
	clear evidence-based decisions for the commissioning of children's services;
	better targeting of services for children; and
	the promotion of partnership working within commissioning.
	Commissioners are required to engage with local patients and the public in order to ensure that services are being commissioned and delivered that best meet their needs. World class commissioning will therefore create services that are increasingly patient-led and customised to the needs of different groups and communities, including children.
	Commissioners will be held to account on their commissioning performance through an assurance system that is intended to lead them towards world class commissioning of services.
	In addition, the Department will be publishing a child health strategy and a joint commissioning framework in the autumn which will specifically support world class commissioning for children and young people.

Diabetes: Health Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to tackle geographical differences in access to insulin pumps for children and young people with diabetes.

Ann Keen: In February 2003, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidelines on the provision of insulin pump therapy to all people with type 1 diabetes, including children and young people. This is currently being reviewed, and the revised guidance is expected to be published shortly.
	The Department is aware that access to pump therapy in England is variable. In March 2007, it published a joint report with Diabetes UK of the findings of the Insulin Pumps Working Group, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The Working Group made recommendations about how local services can implement the NICE guidelines and address variation across the country.

Diabetes: Health Services

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop guidance for the  (a) quality and  (b) appropriate timing of hospital meals for people with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There is published guidance on the quality and delivery of hospital food. An appropriate diet, based on acceptable standards, requires good food with the right nutritional content, properly prepared and available when patients need it (and this includes diets for patients with diabetes). The Food Standards Agency has published nutrient and food based guidance for major institutions, including hospitals. Guidance on nutritional information is available for all recipes in the National Dish Selector. To ensure that wholesome, high quality and value-for-money ingredients are used, the Purchasing and Supply Agency have developed specifications for ingredients.
	Local national health service trusts are responsible for providing hospital meals at appropriate times. To help trusts devise their policies, including those around meal times, we have produced Essence of Care which sets benchmarks for screening and assessment to identify patients' nutritional needs in health and social care settings, and helps healthcare professionals form appropriate care plans.

Diabetes: Health Services

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that people with diabetes receive a comprehensive medical review every 12 months.

Ann Keen: The Quality and Outcomes Framework rewards practices for the number of patients with diabetes who receive key care processes, including measuring blood pressure, HbA1c (blood glucose) and cholesterol.
	Guidance on the management of type 2 diabetes from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that key clinical and lifestyle interventions are carried out on a regular basis.
	The Diabetes National Service Framework highlights the importance of people with diabetes having regular checks. This provides the opportunity for the results of key test and measurements to be discussed, and for any complications to be identified as early as possible.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisons provide the integrated drug treatment system; how many prisoners are undergoing treatment within the system; whether his Department met its March 2008 target for the implementation of the system; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There was no departmental target for the implementation of the system. In 2008-09, the Department allocated funds to implement enhanced clinical treatment as part of an integrated drug treatment system (IDTS) in 91 prisons.
	In 2007-08, good progress was made against implementation plans in the 53 prisons funded by the Department, in 2007-08 to implement enhanced clinical treatment as part of an IDTS. During this period, 25,519 prison drug clinical treatments were initiated in these 53 prisons.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the integrated drug treatment scheme in each year since its announcement.

Ivan Lewis: Departmental funding for the integrated drug treatment scheme in prison commenced in July, 2006. Funding for the remaining nine months of 2006-07 was 12 million, followed by 12.7 million in 2007-08 and 25.39 million in 2008-09.

Epilepsy

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department provides for  (a) the Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy and  (b) the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy.

Ann Keen: We are not aware of any direct funding provided by the Department to either the Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, or the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy.

Epilepsy

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of core training in epilepsy awareness on  (a) neurologists,  (b) nurses and  (c) nurses working in accident and emergency departments;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programme for provision of specialist nurses for epilepsy;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of core training in epilepsy awareness on levels of misdiagnosis for epilepsy.

Ann Keen: We have made no assessment of the effect on neurologists, nurses, and nurses working in accident and emergency departments of core training in epilepsy awareness.
	We have made no assessment of the provision of specialist nurses for epilepsy.
	We have made no assessment of the effect of core training in epilepsy awareness on levels of mis-diagnosis for epilepsy.

EU Employment Social Policy Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1109-10W, on the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, on which dates in each of the last five years senior officials have represented Ministers at the Council; and on which of these occasions Ministers were unable to attend owing to parliamentary commitments.

Dawn Primarolo: Under each presidency for the European Union, Ministers for Health from the 27 member states are invited to attend the Employment, Social Policy, Consumer Affairs and Health Council (EPSCO). From the period of 2003-08, there were two occasions where senior officials have represented Ministers at the EPSCO Council:
	30 to 31 May 2007Anne Lambert, Deputy Permanent Representative for UKRep; and
	9 to 10 June 2008Andy Lebrecht Deputy Permanent Representative for UKRep

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for the Minister of State's statement on his interview published with the BBC News website on 3 July 2008 that one GP practice in the south of England has only two patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The evidence to support the existence of this practiceBurrswood Nursing Home is taken from the ExeterConnecting for Health GP payment system, using latest available data on practice list size, Global sum payments and minimum practice guarantee correction factor payments.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which GP surgery has two patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The Burrswood Nursing Home practice is recorded as having two registered patients.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which 10 GP surgeries have the lowest number of patients; and how many patients each of those surgeries has.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the 10 general practitioner (GP) practices with the lowest number of patients and the number of registered patients at each practice.
	
		
			  Practice  Patients 
			 Burswood Nursing Home 2 
			 Dyneley House 18 
			 Dawcliffe Hall 19 
			 The Surgery 39 
			 The Windsor Centre 125 
			 Cwll Health for Homeless 156 
			 St. Margarets Health Centre 169 
			 St. Weburgh's Medical 179 
			 31 Monkgate 190 
			 Nightingale House 226 
		
	
	The data are taken directly from the 2007 GP Census collection at 30 September 2007.
	In addition, 28 practices have been identified that have no registered patients but who may nevertheless be continuing to provide primary medical care services to patients who are not registered with that practice.

General Practitioners

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish national figures on access to general practitioners.

Ben Bradshaw: The 2007-08 national GP Patient Survey results were published on 16 July 2008, by the Information Centre for health and social care. The survey was conducted from January to March 2008 and shows improvements in patients experience of access during core general practitioner (GP) opening hours, but with more patients wanting to see a GP at convenient times, including, later in the evening or at weekends. This further confirms patient and public support for the Government's initiatives to secure additional and more flexible access to GP services.
	The GP Patient Survey 2008 for access and hospital choice have been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the level of morale amongst general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Assessments of general practitioner (GP) morale are carried out by independent bodies such as the British Medical Association, the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre and the UK Medical Careers Research Group. The results indicate that job satisfaction among general medical practitioners is higher than it was before the introduction of the new GP contract in 2004-05.

General Practitioners

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend access to GP surgeries; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made three key commitments to improve patients' access to general practitioner services: to extend the opening hours of existing general practitioner (GP) practices, securing at least 50 per cent. of practices delivering extended opening hours to their patients; to establish over 100 new GP practices in under-or poorly-served areas; and to develop 152 GP-led health centres, one in each primary care trust (PCT), open 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. To achieve this, we have secured an agreement with the General Practitioners' Committee of the British Medical Association on extended opening, with investment of 158 million available to general practices; guaranteed additional investment of 250 million to PCTs to provided additional general practitioner services and proposed a further investment of 50 million by PCTs to initiate further local improvements for patients in accessing local GP services.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 4.16 of his Department's Primary Care Strategy, whether  (a) GP practice boundaries and  (b) closed patient lists will be phased out.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has no plans to change the regulations that set out the procedures that relate to either a contractor's practice boundaries or their ability to seek permission to close their patient lists. The Department will work with primary care trusts to ensure the current arrangements work better for patients.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 4.16 of his Department's Primary Care Strategy, over what timescale he plans to remove the obstacles to people's choice of GP practices.

Ben Bradshaw: We are supporting the local national health service to work with general practitioners (GPs) and other primary medical care providers to ensure the public have a greater and more informed choice of GP practice. The range of measures includes procuring new additional practices and services, expanding the capacity of existing GPs, making more information available to the public about the performance of providers, and delivering a fairer and more equitable funding system.
	There is already work under way in some parts of England to promote choice of GP practice.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways he plans to distinguish more clearly between the  (a) commissioning and  (b) provider role of GP practices, as referred to on chapter 7.10 on page 52 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care; and when he plans to do so.

Ben Bradshaw: Practice-based commissioning has two elements, which when supported by appropriate governance arrangements, have the potential to improve-the range and quality of local services. Firstly, the multi-professional, collaborative work in commissioning better care for local populations. Secondly, the role of general practitioner practices in providing an enhanced range of services for their patients. For example by establishing a phlebotomy service in the practice so patients do not have to attend outpatients, or by employing an extra nurse to provide proactive care in the community in order to reduce the number of emergency referrals. The Department will provide further information on this later this summer as part of a package of measures to highlight the precise role and contribution of practice-based commissioning.

General Practitioners: Camden

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions  (a) he and  (b) his officials had with Camden Primary Care Trust on the tendering process on the alternative provider medical services contract to run Camden Road, King's Cross and Brunswick Centre GP practices;
	(2)  if he will call for a report from Camden Primary Care Trust on  (a) the bids that were submitted,  (b) the criteria used to select the successful bid,  (c) the tendering process and timescale,  (d) the bidder weighted score in each category and the overall total weighted score for each bid submitted and  (e) the per patient cost estimates in each of the bids submitted, in respect of the alternative provider medical service contract to run Camden Road, King's Cross and Brunswick Centre GP practices.

Ben Bradshaw: In March this year, I had a short conversation with the Chairman of Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT) in preparation for a local political meeting. During the conversation the Chairman briefly touched on the PCT's decision to award to United Healthcare Europe an Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contract, for the management of the three GP practices. I understand that the PCT publicly announced this decision in January 2008.
	The Department has not had any discussions with Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT) regarding the tendering process for the contract to run Camden Road, King's Cross and Brunswick Centre general practitioner (GP) practices. The Department does not collect information on locally managed procurements outwith the current procurements of new GP practices and health centres. Therefore we have no plans to call for a report from Camden PCT.
	It is for PCTs in conjunction with their strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other stakeholders to plan and commission services to meet the needs of their local populations. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise his concerns with the chief executive of Camden PCT.

General Practitioners: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current average payment to GPs per registered patient  (a) nationally and  (b) in North Yorkshire is.

Ben Bradshaw: The current general medical services (GMS) weighted capitation payment per registered patient is 54.72 but the protection of historic income by the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee means that most GMS practices receive more than this and there is wide variation in the payments that practices receive. If these protected payments were distributed fairly and equitably between GMS practices the average GMS weighted payment per patient nationally would be 66. In North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust the average GMS weighted capitation payments received by practices is 69. No information is held centrally on the level of similar payments made by primary care trust to PMS practices or other local contracted providers.

General Practitioners: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on average levels of payment to GPs per registered patient of removing the minimum practice income guarantee.

Ben Bradshaw: The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee is currently worth 325 million annually and is unevenly distributed between General Medical Services (GMS) practices on the basis of their historic income for core essential patient services. The table below sets out the distribution of additional payments being made to GMS practices in terms of s per registered patient.
	
		
			  Distribution of additional payments to GMS practices 
			  Correction factor payment per patient ()  Number of practices 
			 0 341 
			 2 131 
			 4 261 
			 6 333 
			 8 458 
			 10 571 
			 12 621 
			 14 568 
			 16 454 
			 18 328 
			 20 200 
			 22 175 
			 24 117 
			 26 79 
			 28 66 
			 30 33 
			 30+ 86 
			 Total 4,822

General Practitioners: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of GP practices in Hemel Hempstead of the polyclinic proposed to be sited there; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) advises us it has no plans for a polyclinic in Hemel Hempstead. It does have proposals for a new general practitioner (GP)-led health centre to provide services in addition to existing GP surgeries and is currently considering the results of its recent consultation. The PCT advises that this will lead to an increase in capacity and additional choice for patients.

General Practitioners: Income

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans the minimum practice income guarantee will be phased out, as referred to on page 39 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: NHS Employers are currently discussing with the British Medical Association's (BMA) General Practitioners Committee how best to achieve and implement a more equitable funding system for the provision of primary medical care services. These discussions include the possible timescale for phasing out the minimum practice income guarantee.

General Practitioners: Pay

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary of a full-time general practitioner is.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on general practitioners' earnings is collected annually as part of the GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiry and is based on general practitioners' tax self-assessment returns to HM Revenue and Customs. Both part-time and full-time general practitioners make these returns and it is not possible to separate them out to calculate an average earnings figure for full-time general practitioners only.
	The latest available information from the GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiry is for the financial year 2005-06 and was published in GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiry 2005/2006: Final Report on 19 March 2008 and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/gpearnex0506final
	This publication has already been placed in the Library. The initial results from the 2006-07 Earnings and Expenses Enquiry are expected to be published in October 2008.

General Practitioners: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to mandate the adoption of the Royal College of General Practitioners' accreditation scheme for GP practices, as referred to on page 53 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has no plans to make the Royal College of General Practitioners' accreditation scheme mandatory. Following the completion of the pilot, working with the profession we will consider how to secure widespread take-up by all primary medical care contractors so as to drive up the quality of their organisation and services they provide to patients.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis was for his Department's decision to seek an extension of GP opening hours in England.

Ben Bradshaw: There was a range of information that informed the basis for putting in place measures to improve patient access to general practice.
	Responses to the 2007 GP Patient Survey indicated that 16 per cent. of people, around six and a half million patients, were unhappy with their general practitioner (GP) practices' opening hours.
	The consultative event held in September 2007, which preceded Lord Darzi's interim report, showed that many people sought the opportunity to access routine primary care from a GP in the evenings or at weekends.
	The British Medical Association's own survey of GPs in October 2007 showed that a majority of GPs would be willing to provide extended opening hours and agreed that patients wanted such a service.
	Other surveys of the public carried out by Which? and other consumer representative organisations similarly show that patients want to have greater flexibility in opening times to be able to see a GP.
	The 2008 GP Patient Survey results, carried out between January and March and published on 16 July 2008, showed that 18 per cent. of peopleas many as seven and a half million patients nationallywant to see improvements in the opening hours of their local GP practice. This increase in dissatisfaction from the 2007 survey results reinforces the importance of primary care trusts working with local practices to deliver more flexible access for patients.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Ben Bradshaw: 118 staff work in the Communications Directorate. Another 21 staff are employed in the Department in an embedded communications role. All of these staff are eligible to register with the Government Communications Network (GCN).
	Currently no staff within the Purchasing and Supply Agency or Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are classified as Government communicators.

Hazardous Substances: Screening

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests for toxins are available on the NHS.

Dawn Primarolo: A wide range of tests for toxins is available on the national health service. These include tests for chemical compounds or other agents which cause illness or death when ingested, breathed in or injected; and testing for the presence in the body of toxins produced by microbes, in order to diagnose an infection or disease.
	The Health Protection Agency runs the National Poisons Information Service, which provides information and advice to health professionals on the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients who may have been accidentally or deliberately poisoned, and supports NHS Direct and NHS 24 in providing advice to members of the public.

Health Centres

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) GP practices and  (b) primary care centres were (i) opened and (ii) refurbished in the last 12 months; and how many of each are planned to be opened in the next three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Plan, published in July 2000, set national targets to replace or significantly refurbish up to 3,000 general practitioner (GP) premises and create 500 one-stop primary care centres by 2004. Both targets were met. The target for one-stop centres was extended to create an additional 250 by December 2008.
	In the 12 months to 31 March 2008 the number of one-stop primary care centres has increased by 27 to 719 in total. Information on the number of GP practises opened or refurbished and primary care centres refurbished is not collected centrally.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients who will register with new GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for primary care trusts to estimate the number of patients that will choose to register at a new general practitioner led health centre.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of primary care trusts that will not open a new GP-led health centre because to do so would be inappropriate given the health needs of their population.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department expects each primary care trust (PCT) to secure a general practitioner (GP) led health centre during 2008-09. As the recent national GP Patient Survey demonstrates, patients across all parts of the country wish to have greater and more convenient access to GP services. It is for primary care trusts to develop models of primary care and community services that focus more strongly on promoting health, preventing illness and managing long-term conditions. PCTs may therefore chose to commission a wider range of responsive services that reflect local health need and maximise integration with other services such as diagnostics, dentistry, pharmacy and social care.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has made for the training of additional GPs to staff the new GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has worked with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and the general practitioners (GP) postgraduate deans to expand GP training to ensure that there are sufficient training places to meet expected future demand. Since 1997 there has been an 85.4 per cent. increase in the number of GP registrars, qualified doctors in training for general practice, with 2,337 GP registrar posts being recruited to this year. The total number of doctors in training in the NHS has grown annually over the last 10 years at an average of 4.4 per cent. a year.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a patient in treated in a GP-led health centre without being registered there, whether funding will be transferred from the GP where the patient is registered to the health centre to cover the cost of treatment.

Ben Bradshaw: No.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary care trusts that do not open a new GP-led health centre will receive the money they would have otherwise received within their allocations to fund the centre.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Operating Framework 2008-09 set out the Department's expectation that all primary care trusts (PCTs) will secure a new general practitioner led health centre using their share of the new and additional 250 million access fund and all PCTs are currently planning to deliver these extra services.

Health Centres: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated annual GP-led average payment per registered patient will be in health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a local contractual matter for each primary care trust (PCT). However, we have advised PCTs to set a local equitable price per patient per year of care (i.e. a fair and equitable weighted capitation payment per patient); or to obtain a cost per registered patient through the procurement process. Where PCTs choose to set a local price, the payment mechanism should be calculated on a weighted capitation basis i.e. based on the expected age/sex/deprivation and demographics of the population to be covered. Where PCTs decide to ask bidders to bid on a price per registered patient, per year basis, a comparison should be made with the price per patient for existing practices with similar patient demographic characteristics.
	In considering pricing, PCTs will also need to take into consideration the additional opening hours new health centre providers will need to deliver, any locally enhanced services being contracted for, or additional clinical or qualitative requirements being sought against which providers contracts will be performance management against.

Health Centres: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) resource and  (b) capital funding has been allocated to each primary care trust to build a new GP-led health centre.

Ben Bradshaw: A 250 million access revenue fund was secured for the NHS through the Comprehensive Spending Review process to support the delivery of GP-led health centres in every primary care trust (PCT) and 100 new GP practices in the most poorly served PCTs. Collectively, 120 million of this is for health centres and will be included in PCT allocations using a weighted capitation formula to determine each PCTs target share of available resources. All revenue funding allocated to PCTs will be on the basis of continuing to meet recurrent expenditure.
	No capital funding has been allocated specifically for the GP led health centres. Where capital investment is required to support the development of new GP facilities, they can use the funds available to them for local capital investment priorities. The Operating Framework for the NHS in England in 2008-09 stated that 400 million, 480 million and 565 million of would be available to fund the local investment priorities of the PCT sector, respectively, in this and the next two years. After careful consideration of local investment plans, to ensure the maximum possible investment in this sector, the budget for 2008-09 was increased to 500 million.
	New health centre buildings may also be procured under NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust. There are currently 48 NHS LIFT schemes covering half of the country.

Health Centres: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many polyclinics he expects will be established in North East Hertfordshire constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: There are currently no plans to establish polyclinics in the North East Hertfordshire constituency. East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust is in the process of procuring a general practitioner-led health centre.

Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 10 of the NHS Next Stage Review Final Report, how much money his Department has allocated to the Reduce your Risk campaign; and when this campaign will be launched.

Dawn Primarolo: Implementing the proposals in the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, is core business for the national health service. The NHS budget for England for 2008-09 is 96 billion and will rise to 110 billion by 2010-11. The proposals will be funded from within that settlement. Some proposals require central funding to ensure effective implementation. Central funding of 150 million in 2009-10 and 400 million in 2010-11 has been made available for this purpose.
	We are confident all the commitments are affordable within this overall total, though precise funding for individual initiatives is still subject to further detailed planning work on implementation including whether they are taken forward nationally or by the NHS locally. The campaign will run alongside the introduction of vascular checks, which will begin from 2009-10 with full implementation by 2012.

Health Education: Public Participation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to begin work with  (a) professional and  (b) patient groups to provide better incentives in the Quality and Outcomes Framework for maintaining good health, as referred to on page 37 of his Department's document, High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432; with which (i) professional and (ii) patient groups he plans to work; when he expects the agreed changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework will come into effect; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Our vision for primary and community careHigh Quality Care for All published on 3 July as part of Lord Darzi's national health service review proposes a new strategy for developing the Quality and Outcomes Framework, including an independent and transparent process for developing and reviewing indicators.
	The report states our intention to:
	discuss with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and with stakeholders including patient groups and professional bodies how this new process should work;
	discuss how to reduce the number of organisational or process indicators, and refocus resources on new indicators for prevention and clinical effectiveness; and
	explore the scope to give greater flexibility to primary care trusts to work with primary healthcare teams to select quality indicators (from a national menu) that reflect local health improvement priorities.
	We will discuss with a wide range of professional and patient groups and other stakeholders how the new process should work. Further details will be announced later.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans primary care trusts (PCTs) to begin commissioning comprehensive well-being services, as referred to on page 35 of his Department's document High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432; what the evidential basis is for focusing these services on  (a) obesity,  (b) alcohol,  (c) drug addiction,  (d) smoking,  (e) sexual health and  (f) mental health; what other areas were considered in assessing where to focus comprehensive well-being services; what national funding will be made available to PCTs to support them in commissioning comprehensive well-being services; what contractual mechanisms PCTs will use to commission comprehensive well-being services; in what settings he anticipates the comprehensive well-being services being provided; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Implementing the proposals in the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, is core business for the national health service. The NHS budget for England for 2008-09 is 96 billion and will rise to 110 billion by 2010-11. The proposals will be funded from within that settlement.
	To support decisions on how to spend their allocated resource, primary care trusts have developed operational plans on the specific national requirements for all primary care trusts to deliver, alongside locally determined stretch targets which focus on local ambitions. To support this new approach the Vital Signs indicator set was published with the Operational Plans 2008/09-2010/11.
	Lord Darzi's review, High Quality Care For All foresees that in an NHS with a stronger focus on preventative healthcare, there will be large scale investment in wellbeing services, according to local needs. All of the areas highlighted by High Quality Care For All (obesity, alcohol, drug addiction, smoking, sexual health and mental health) appear in Vital Signs and the National Indicator Set, either as national priorities for local delivery (Tier 2 indicators), or local priorities which can be prioritised by primary care trusts in conjunction with local partners (Tier 3 indicators).
	Improving preventative and wellbeing services was a priority in every strategic health authority vision document published as part of Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review of the NHS. Each vision document is based on an assessment of the evidence by over 2000 clinicians across England, and each one highlighted some or all of these areas (obesity, alcohol, drug addiction, smoking, sexual health and mental health) as requiring action, hence their inclusion in High Quality Care For All.
	The World Class Commissioning programme was launched in July 2007 by the Department in order to provide support and improve commissioning across the NHS. This programme will bring about a step-change in commissioning, with one aspect of this change being a stronger focus on long-term health issues.
	Through stronger engagement of stakeholders, and strategic planning with a greater focus on the longer-term, we expect to see increased investment in wellbeing services throughout the NHS as a result of the World Class Commissioning programme and High Quality Care For All.
	Primary care trusts commission services from appropriate providers to deliver the services and care required. Services could be commissioned from a range of possible providers who are able to meet the service specifications identified by that primary care trust, in line with NICE guidance, where appropriate. It is up to primary care trusts to decide the appropriate settings for services as part of the commissioning process and the decisions are likely to take account of preferences of the target groups for that service.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways he plans to work with third sector groups to reach those less able to access services, as referred to on page 35 of his Department's document High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432.

Ann Keen: Third sector groups are part of the ongoing stakeholder engagement work that has been undertaken since vascular checks were announced in Putting Prevention First at the beginning of April this year. Regular meetings are held with the Cardio Vascular Coalition third sector group, as well as with individual third sector organisations. They provide vital information about their own work in reaching those less able to access services and we will continue to work closely with them through the development of the programme.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to bring forward legislation introducing a new right to choose, as referred to on page 10 of his Department's document High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432; whether the legislation will be  (a) primary or  (b) secondary; whether he plans to consult on the legislation in draft; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The draft NHS Constitution proposes that the new right be underpinned by new statutory directions from the Secretary of State to primary care trusts (PCTs). This is subject to consultation. This could be done through directions under section 8 of the National Health Service Act 2006 by requiring PCTs to ensure choice. These could specify which services are covered and any exceptions. They will also require PCTs to provide information to enable choice, and to make arrangements to enable a patient to exercise choice if not offered by their general practitioner.
	In addition, we propose to use the forthcoming National Health Service Reform Bill to place a legal duty on all NHS organisations to take account of the Constitution when performing their functions.
	The draft NHS Constitution and the Government's proposals are open for public consultation until 17 October 2008. The details, including how to feed in views, may be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/consultations

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 9 of the NHS Next Stage Review Final Report, which organisations are participating in his Department's coalition for better health.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government will build a Coalition for Better Health to work in partnership with the many other organisations outside Government that seek to promote healthier lifestyles. The Coalition for Better Health will first focus on tackling obesity and we expect partner organisations to include health, non-Government organisations, the food industry, the fitness industry, employers and others.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the level of rurality of different primary care trust areas.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not made any assessment of the level of rurality of primary care trusts. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs did publish such a classification of the then 303 primary care and care trusts in England in 2005, based on research led by Birkbeck college at the university of London.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he plans to be included in the Patients' Prospectus, as referred to on page 40 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; whether  (a) professional,  (b) patient and  (c) other groups will contribute to the information included in the Patients' Prospectus; whether the information included in the Patients' Prospectus will be disease-specific; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Patients' Prospectus aims to empower and support people with long term conditions to understand and exercise their choice around support for self care so that they can better control their condition and ultimately improve their quality of life. The Prospectus will be a national product, generic and will cover the four pillars of our existing policy on support for self care (information, tools, skills and support networks) together with healthy lifestyle choices. A wide range of stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, third sector representatives and staff from national health service organisations and local government are involved in developing the content, which will be launched first on NHS Choices in the autumn.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the anticipated trajectory of the number of people  (a) being offered and  (b) accepting a personalised care plan over the next five years, as referred to on page 41 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; how he plans to monitor uptake of personalised care plans; what information will be included in personalised care plans; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department is currently developing a range of options to measure and incentivise the delivery and impact of care planning including the use of patient surveys to monitor patient experience at a local level. Planned trajectories for the uptake of care plans will be decided locally. Information included in care plans will also be decided locally using recommended minimum standards.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to have developed the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme, as referred to on page 42 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, whether he will consult on a draft of the scheme; how often he expects to alter the incentives in the scheme; whether the incentives in the scheme will be determined  (a) nationally and  (b) locally; which organisation will evaluate the scheme; what conditions will be prioritised in the scheme; whether the scheme will cover community services; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: High Quality Care For All outlined the commitment to make payments to hospitals reflect the quality of care given to patients through a Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme. Over the next few months, we will be working with stakeholders and national health service colleagues to develop a national enabling framework for the scheme. These discussions will include the scope of the framework, both in terms of services and specialties covered, and how the incentives will work. We will then clarify the framework later this year. The CQUIN scheme will commence from 2009 and evaluation will be subject to a competitive tender process.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons primary care trusts will have local discretion in choosing which Never Events to prioritise in their annual operating plans, as referred to on page 45 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, when he expects the National Patient Safety Agency to publish a list of Never Events; whether he expects the National Patient Safety Agency to consult publicly on the list; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) will work with interested Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and wider stakeholders (including patients and members of the public) to draw up a list of Never Events. This list will be published later in the year and will be available for PCTs to use in their operating plans from April 2009. The incidence of each of these events will vary between PCTs and therefore it will be important that PCTs have the flexibility to prioritise and select the events which will have the most impact on their own health population. The Department also anticipates that, over time, PCTs will expand their list of Never Events and the NPSA will keep under review the national list to incorporate more events that PCTs are able to use as we continue to learn from safety incidents and develop evidence-based interventions to prevent them happening again.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce NHS Evidence, as referred to on page 49 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Dawn Primarolo: The first release of the NHS Evidence Service is scheduled for April 2009.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  in what ways integrated care organisations will be rewarded for delivering better health outcomes amongst registered patients for groups of GP practices, as referred to on page 65 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on competition in referrals to secondary care resulting from the creation of integrated care organisations, as referred to on page 65 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: The Next Stage Review and the Primary and Community Care Strategy announced that the Department would pilot models of integrated care. A prospectus inviting pilots to submit applications against pre-agreed selection criteria will be published over the summer. This will also set out funding available for the pilots to support set up costs and project management.
	The pilots will be evaluated and the criteria will include the delivery of better health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and the effects of competition and choice.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways practice-based commissioning has not lived up to its aspirations, as referred to on page 65 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: Practice-based commissioning (PBC) has the potential to transform healthcare services, allowing clinicians to develop better services for patients in local communities. However as noted by the Audit Commission's report on PBC, Putting Commissioning into Practice (November 2007), while there are examples of PBC thriving in a growing number of areas, the scale of service redesigns undertaken have been limited in comparison with the potential impact of PBC. High Quality Care for All signals the Department's intention to intensify its implementation programme and as PBC matures locally, we expect to see more ambitious redesign of local services undertaken.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the standard contract for community services, as referred to on page 64 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, will be available for commissioners to utilise for the 2009-10 financial year; whether all  (a) commissioners and  (b) providers of community services will be required to use the standard contract for community services; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The standard contract for community services is being tested in all strategic health authority areas for implementation from April 2009. From this date all primary care trusts (PCTs) taking the lead role in awarding new contracts for community services will use the standard contract. The contract will apply to all relevant providers, including the third and independent sectors, and it will also be used as a service level agreement for PCT provider organisations. Where there is a legally binding contract in place which commenced prior to 1 April 2009, and is not due to expire until after this date, this agreement will remain in force until the expiry date unless otherwise agreed by both parties.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the work led by Sir Ian Carruthers on innovative delivery models, as referred to on page 63 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the national health service next stage review process, Sir Ian Carruthers examined the drivers of change for delivery models with a particular emphasis on rural settings. This work will be published in due course.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish advice on the range of options for the governance of community health services, as referred to in paragraph 15, page 62 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: We are developing a legal and governance framework for new organizational models, which we expect to issue later this year.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have established arm's length provider organisations, as referred to on page 62 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; and in which areas the NHS is exploring  (a) community foundation trusts and  (b) social enterprises for community services.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect comprehensive information on arms length provider organisations or on primary care trusts exploring social enterprises as an organisational model for community services.
	We are working with six community foundation trust pilots, covering Ashton, Leigh and Wigan, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Liverpool, Oldham, South Birmingham and Cambridgeshire
	We are also supporting four social enterprise pathfinders that are primary care trust provider arms exploring the potential for separation and the development of a social enterprise model. These are Hull, Milton Keynes, Surrey and the Forest of Dean.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health before which financial year he first expects to publish details of  (a) the tariff uplift and  (b) efficiency gains on a multi-year basis, as referred to page 52 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: It is anticipated that projections for multi-year tariff uplift and efficiency gains will be announced later in the year, at the same time as the publication of the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected timeframe is for  (a) developing acceptable methodologies for drawing up information on clinical effectiveness and  (b) publishing this information, as referred to on page 51 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: Clinical effectiveness is one of the principal elements of the quality of health services. Therefore, information on clinical effectiveness will form part of the full set of quality measures for acute patient care that are being identified by the Department. Officials have begun identifying measures from existing sources in the national health service, other health-related organisations and internationally. The first set of national quality measures will be assessed for robustness, accuracy and relevance and improvement will be supported by a National Quality Board and strategic health authority-based quality observatories.
	Discussion with clinical staff and expert bodies on the initial set of measures identified by the Department will take place in the autumn. This will ensure that measures are drawn up in partnership with clinical and expert stakeholders prior to the announcement of the national set of measures alongside the next NHS operating framework.
	In partnership with Royal Colleges and specialist associations, work will shortly commence to develop further generations of more sensitive and specific measures of care quality and outcomes. These will exploit new sources of data and research evidence, and will deliver better indicators for clinicians to use locally over coming years.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to review the Quality and Outcomes Framework of the General Medical Services contract to be reviewed; whether he plans to bring forward proposals to make the process for developing and reviewing indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework more  (a) independent and  (b) transparent, as referred to on page 51 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; what plans he has for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to lead on the (i) development and (ii) review of indicators in the Quality and the Outcomes Framework; whether he plans new indicators of prevention and clinical effectiveness to be added to offset the reduction in process and organisational indicators, as referred to on page 51 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Our Vision for Primary and Community Care published on 3 July as part of NHS Next Stage Review proposes a new strategy for developing the Quality and Outcomes Framework, including an independent and transparent process for developing and reviewing indicators. The report states our intention to:
	discuss with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and with stakeholders including patient groups and professional bodies how this new process should work;
	discuss how to reduce the number of organisational or process indicators, and refocus resources on new indicators for prevention and clinical effectiveness; and
	explore the scope to give greater flexibility to primary care trusts to work with primary healthcare teams to select quality indicators (from a national menu) that reflect local health improvement priorities.
	Some of these matters are subject to the outcome of negotiations with general practitioner representatives and therefore it is not appropriate to set out details in advance of those negotiations. We will discuss with professional and patient groups and other stakeholders how the new process should work.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on competition in referrals to secondary care resulting from the integration of community providers with NHS acute trusts, as referred to on page 44 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care.

Ben Bradshaw: We have reviewed the potential impact on choice and competition of arrangements where NHS foundation trusts hold contracts for list-based primary medical care and we issued guidance in The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/9 Annex D Principles and rules for co-operation and competition copies of which have already been placed in the Library. The guidance sets out the safeguards that primary care trusts, as commissioners of services, should apply both in considering whether to award primary care contracts to secondary care providers and through the contracts for such services. These principles and safeguards apply to any service that involves referrals from community providers to secondary care.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways his Department plans to assess the prevalence of illness amongst the populations served by different GP practices, as referred to on page 40 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care.

Ben Bradshaw: Our Vision for Primary and Community Care published on 3 July as part of NHS Next Stage Review states we will work to ensure that QOF rewards better reflect the prevalence of illness amongst the populations served by different GP practices.
	We are currently discussing with the British Medical Association changes to the prevalence formula which weights Quality and Outcome Framework payments according to prevalence of disease as measured through Quality Management System, which receives data extracted from general practitioner clinical systems.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned timescale is for exploring the use of patient-reported outcome measures in the Quality and Outcomes Framework, as referred to on page 45 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care; whether he plans these patient-reported outcome measures to be disease-specific; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We will be exploring with the profession the feasibility of developing indicators based on Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for the Quality and Outcomes Framework. These may include PROMs for specific disease areas depending on the evidence base for such indicators.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what greater freedoms he expects to provide to practice-based commissioners which can show they can take on increased responsibility, as referred to on page 52 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care.

Ben Bradshaw: Greater freedoms in managing resources will become available to practice-based commissioners who can demonstrate an ability to undertake increased responsibility. The precise nature of these freedoms, including their application, will be developed this autumn in consultation with primary care trusts and practice-based commissioners.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways he envisages the NHS Constitution encouraging open and transparent explanation by local NHS organisations if they choose not to fund a drug or treatment that a patient and clinician feels appropriate, as referred on page 44 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; what elements of decision-making on the funding of new treatments and drugs he defines as irrational; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The draft NHS Constitution (copies have already been placed in the Library) was published on 30 June 2008 and the Government's proposals are open for public consultation until 17 October 2008. The Government will consider these issues, including the principles to support NHS decision-making, following the consultation.

Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to have developed ways to  (a) monitor uptake of new clinical technologies and  (b) measure the uptake of clinically-effective and cost-effective medicines once introduced, as referred to on page 44 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; what plans he has to repeat the National Cancer Director's report on the uptake of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)-approved cancer medicines in future years; whether his Department will produce a report on the uptake of all NICE-approved medicines in future years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of the innovation package agreed through the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme negotiations, and in support of the objectives set out in High Quality Care for All, the Government have committed to developing new metrics for the uptake of clinically and cost-effective medicines, starting with a number of drugs positively appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and to publishing comparative international data. Detailed arrangements for the publication of these metrics have yet to be finalised.
	The National Cancer Director's latest report on the uptake of cancer treatments recommended by NICE will be published later in 2008.
	NICE currently publishes information on the uptake of a number of treatments it has appraised on its website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/usingguidance/evaluationandreviewofniceimplementationevidenceernie/niceimplementationuptakecommissionedreports/nice_implementation_uptake__commissioned_reports.jsp

Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the clinical effectiveness of pre-hospital care as carried out by  (a) doctors,  (b) consultants and  (c) paramedics.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made no such assessment. The Department recognises that a range of professionals have a role to play in the provision of safe, high quality pre-hospital care but that it is for the local national health service to plan and provide such services and that the particular mix of clinical staff in such services is a local matter. Consultants, doctors and paramedics undergo professional regulation to ensure that standards are maintained.

Health Services: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for spending on primary care in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in the next three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department makes revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) and not to constituencies. The revenue allocation made to Cumbria PCT for 2008-09 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Cumbria Teaching PCT  2008-09 
			 Allocation (000) 726,801 
			 Cash increase (000) 37,642 
			 Percentage age increase 5.5 
		
	
	The 2009-10 and 2010-11 PCT revenue allocations will be announced in the autumn alongside the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10.
	It is the responsibility of individual PCTs to commission appropriate services to meet the needs of their local populations.

Health Services: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on  (a) primary and  (b) acute healthcare in (i) Cumbria, (ii) West Cumbria and (iii) Copeland constituency since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is hot available as requested. Information showing primary, general and acute health care by the Cumbria Primary Care Trust (PCT) and its predecessor organisations, from the earliest and latest dates available, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  000 
			   Total primary healthcare purchased  General and acute 
			  2000-01   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority 64,412 96,327 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority 62,236 115,311 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT n/a n/a 
			 Eden Valley PCT n/a n/a 
			 West Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 126,648 211,638 
			
			  2001-02   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority 19,637 501 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority 18,928 0 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 16,933 39,665 
			 Eden Valley PCT 10,230 22,053 
			 West Cumbria PCT 24,045 47,157 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 47,631 128,756 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 137,404 238,132 
			
			  2002-03   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority 58,564 0 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 22,785 44,165 
			 Eden Valley PCT 14,122 27,701 
			 West Cumbria PCT 29,787 56,072 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 63,860 140,999 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 189,118 268,937 
			
			  2003-04   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 30,735 53,611 
			 Eden Valley PCT 18,930 25,643 
			 West Cumbria PCT 37,038 59,734 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 79,802 147,689 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 166,505 286,677 
			  2004-05   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 38,209 58,125 
			 Eden Valley PCT 21,728 29,009 
			 West Cumbria PCT 41,900 66,748 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 91,673 173,629 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 193,510 327,511 
			
			  2005-06   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 37,904 57,794 
			 Eden Valley PCT 23,571 31,841 
			 West Cumbria PCT 44,062 68,665 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 102,567 184,532 
			 Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Total 208,104 342,832 
			
			  2006-07   
			 North Cumbria Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a 
			 Carlisle and District PCT n/a n/a 
			 Eden Valley PCT n/a n/a 
			 West Cumbria PCT n/a n/a 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT n/a n/a 
			 Cumbria PCT 176,609 295,700 
			 Total 176,609 295,700 
			  Sources: Audited health authority summarisation forms 2000-01 to 2001-02 Audited Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority summarisation forms 2002-03 Audited primary care trust summarisation schedules 2001-02 to 2006-07

Health Services: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce inequalities of health outcomes and life expectancy within Cumbria.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally.
	The Department has put in place a number of measures to tackle health inequalities. On 9 June 2008, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the document Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps. The document highlights successes in reducing inequalities and identifies how effort will be increased to meet the health inequalities 2010. National Public Service Agreement target for life expectancy and infant mortality. The document also sets the direction of travel for tackling health inequalities. It commits the Government to work together to develop the structures, systems and actions to sustain long-term delivery on health inequalities.
	The document also publicised an improved health inequalities intervention tool, jointly owned by the Department and the Association of Public Health Observatories. The tool is an interactive website to help local health services and councils improve life expectancy in local areas.
	The Department has also established national support teams for health inequalities and for tobacco control to disseminate best practice across all spearhead areas and areas with high infant mortality rates, and to provide intensive support for those areas that need it.

Health Services: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons health care providers not working for or on behalf of the NHS will not be required to publish quality accounts, as referred to on page 51 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: The remit of Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review was to consider the future of the national health service, not health care in general. Independent health care providers who are currently subject to regulation by the Healthcare Commission are required to publish information about their services and, subject to passage in Parliament, similar regulatory requirements will be laid on all providers registered by the Care Quality Commission.

Health Services: North West

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) structure and  (b) objectives are of NHS North West's pay-for-performance scheme, referred to on page 42 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally. Information about the national health service North West's Advancing Quality scheme is available on the Advancing Quality website at:
	www.advancingqualitynw.nhs.uk.

Health Services: Royal Household

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answers of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 201W, on health services: Royal Household and 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 149-50W, on general practitioners: Buckingham Palace, for what reasons his Department was not aware on 25 March 2008 of the arrangements for provision of primary health care service to staff of the Royal households; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts have a duty to secure primary medical services or secure their provision within what it considers necessary to meet reasonable requirements. That includes arrangement for the provision of primary health care services to staff of the Royal Household who live in the PCT area.
	The Department does not monitor the individual performance of practices or registration of individual patients with the practice.
	The arrangements for the provision of primary care services to the Royal Household predate this Government and it was not until after the 25 March 2008 that it was brought to the Department's attention the arrangement that has historically been provided under existing general medical services.

Health Services: Rural Areas

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of public transport provision on accessibility of the health services in rural areas.

Ben Bradshaw: The effect of public transport provision on the accessibility of local health services is a matter for consideration by the local commissioners and providers of those services.

Health Services: Telephone Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the  (a) costs and  (b) benefits of a three-digit telephone number for urgent care which his Department is considering, as referred to on page 40 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; which (i) officials and (ii) other parties are involved in the next phase of work on the matter; when he plans to set out further details on the next phase of work; whether his Department plans to encourage the development of local three-digit urgent care numbers ahead of its national review, as recommended in the visions documents of England's strategic health authorities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what each of the options being considered by his Department for an urgent care number are as referred to on page 27 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care.

Ben Bradshaw: The Next Stage Review set out that we are currently considering various options to introduce a new three-digit telephone number to help people find the right local service to meet their urgent, unplanned care needs. Part of this phase of work will include considering the costs and benefits of introducing a three-digit number.
	Officials in the Commissioning and System Management Directorate are leading this project and working with others in the Department and stakeholders including from strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts, ambulance trusts, out of hours providers, clinicians and NHS Direct. Officials will be exploring with SHAs their plans for implementing a three-digit number to inform options development. Further details from this phase of work will be set out in the autumn.

Health Services: Voluntary Organisations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made towards implementation of the Government's commitment to introduce full cost recovery for the voluntary sector; and when the commitment will be fully implemented.

Ivan Lewis: The Department fully supports the principle of full cost recovery (FCR) for the voluntary sector. Its new Third Sector Investment programme, launched on 17 July 2008, has been designed so that Compact principles, including FCR, are embedded from the outset and reflected in the guidance for applicants for grant funding, to support applicants in submitting well costed proposals.
	Policy supporting procurement activities for goods and services within the Department signpost staff to the Office of Government Commerce and the Home Office document Think smart, think voluntary sector on procurement from the voluntary and community sectors.
	Guidance within the Commissioning Framework for Health and Wellbeing makes clear that Commissioners should adopt procurement practices that are fair and openmeaning neutral between different types of providers and transparent on pricingminimising transaction costs and allowing providers to frame realistic economic tenders. We believe this is the most straightforward way to deal with the issue of 'full cost recovery'.

Heart Diseases: First Aid

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage people to learn resuscitation techniques for heart attack and stroke victims.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific steps are being taken by the Government to encourage people to learn resuscitation techniques for heart attack and stroke victims.
	The NHS Plan made a commitment to provide 3000 automatic external defibrillators (AED) in public places. This helps to save the lives of those heart attack sufferers who have a cardiac arrest. National Defibrillator Programme resulted in over 6,050 site personnel from public places such as airports, railway stations and bus stations receiving training in basic life support (BLS) and the use of an AED. By the end of 2006, a further 11,405 people had been trained and 10,642 re-trained. Current responsibility for training lies with the Ambulance Service Trusts.
	The Department has been working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Healthy Schools initiative to improve the information available to schools wishing to provide first aid and cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to their pupils. A number of first aid and CPR training providers have been involved in this work and it is intended to publish a package of information for schools shortly.
	People with stroke also require urgent treatment initiated by a 999 call. At the launch of the National Stroke Strategy in December 2007 (copies of which have already been placed in the Library), 12 million of central funding was set aside for raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and the need to call 999. This work is in progress and will support a more urgent and timely response of the national health service and the public to stroke.

Heart Diseases: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for heart operations in NHS hospitals were in  (a) 2005 and  (b) the last 12 months; and how many operations were carried out in each period.

Ann Keen: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Mean and median days waited for heart operations and the number of finished consultant episodes where a heart operation was the main or secondary procedure in both 2005-06 and 2006-07, NHS hospitals England, and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			   Mean days waited  Median days waited  Finished consultant episodes 
			 2006-07 65 56 294,811 
			 2005-06 74 60 287,215 
			  Data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Finished consultant episode (FCE) An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Main procedure/intervention The main procedure/intervention is the first recorded procedure or intervention in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure or intervention performed during the episode.  Heart operations K01-K78  Secondary procedure As well as the main operative procedure, there are up to 11 (three prior to 2002-03) secondary operation fields in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) that show secondary or additional procedures performed on the patient during the episode of care.  Time waited (days) Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. The IC have provided the mean (average) and median (middle in ranking) days waited where there was a main procedure of 'heart operation' in 2005-06 and 2006-07. The median figures are a better proxy to the average time waited as mean figures can cloud the real picture as some anomalies (long-waiters) may be artificially increasing the average. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Herbal Medicine

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many applications under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency expects to receive for  (a) single ingredient products and  (b) more complex products;
	(2)  if he will list the principal quality and efficacy tests which must be met by manufacturers submitting products for registration under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and if he will indicate in the case of each such test the costs of compliance assumed in the context of the regulatory impact assessment produced in connection with this legislation;
	(3)  what the requirements are under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive for a qualified person to be employed to authorise the release of herbal products to the market; what purpose is served by this requirement; and what assessment he has made of the costs associated with this provision for a small manufacturer of specialist herbal remedies;
	(4)  what the outcome was of the recent review of the operation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive undertaken by the European Commission; what period was covered by the review; and whether he intends to make it his policy to press for the review to be repeated now that member states have had the opportunity to use the provisions of the Directive.

Dawn Primarolo: It is a commercial decision for individual companies whether to apply for a traditional herbal registration (THR) under the provisions flowing from directive 2004/24/EC. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is not in a position to estimate how many applications will be submitted. So far, the MHRA has received 38 THR applications, of which 33 are for products containing a single active ingredient and five are for combination products. The MHRA expects that a high proportion of early applications will be for relatively simple products while companies become accustomed to meeting the regulatory requirements of the scheme.
	There is normally no requirement for applicants to submit information on the efficacy of the product under the THR scheme. The quality requirements for herbal medicinal products and traditional herbal medicinal products are set out in detailed guidance documents following consultation with industry. The European Pharmacopoeia also sets out legally binding standards for herbal ingredients as well as excipients used in herbal medicinal products. The purpose of the quality tests is to ensure that the herbal medicinal product is safe for use and has a reproducible quality over its proposed shelf-life. Tests are required to ensure that the correct plant materials are used, free from potentially hazardous contaminants such as pesticide residues, fumigant residues, heavy metals/other toxic elements, mycotoxins, bacteria/fungi. Where herbal extracts are employed, tests are required on all materials used, including solvents and reagents used for extraction, to ensure that they are as intended and of acceptable quality. The herbal extract undergoes tests to ensure it is of reproducible quality and that it is free from hazardous levels of, for example, residual solvents, micro-organisms or potential contaminants from the starting plant materials. The finished dosage form is tested to ensure that it contains the declared amount of herbal ingredients and that it will remain of suitable quality throughout the proposed shelf-life.
	European and United Kingdom medicines legislation requires manufacturers and/or importers of registered traditional herbal medicines for human use to hold a manufacturer's licence. It is a condition of such a licence that the holder must have a Qualified Person (QP). The QP must either meet existing specific educational and vocational requirements or attain status through transitional arrangements. The QP has a personal responsibility for certifying that each batch of registered traditional herbal medicine, has undergone the appropriate tests, complies with its registered specification and has been manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practice. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that a safe quality traditional herbal medicine is placed on the market.
	In its regulatory impact assessment of the THR scheme, the MHRA estimated that typically the costs of registering a product under the scheme could be several tens of thousands of pounds but that the figure would vary widely according to specific circumstances, not least depending on whether companies already had systematic quality control systems in place. This assessment has not changed.
	The European Commission launched a public consultation in May 2007 on the review of the operation of directive 2004/24/EC. The consultation included data up to March 2007. It is the European Commission's responsibility to report on the findings of that review and, pending that outcome, we have no present plans to press for an early second review.

Herbal Medicine

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the requirements are under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive for the certification of manufacturing premises; what charges are levied by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for inspections associated with such certification; and how many facilities have  (a) been inspected and  (b) been certified as meeting the necessary standards.

Dawn Primarolo: The Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products requires manufacturers of registered herbal medicines to be authorised by the national competent authority. In the United Kingdom, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorises and inspects manufacturers. The inspection fee is currently 1,496 for a full day and 920 for half a day. Manufacturers must meet certain conditions and employ a qualified person in order to be authorised. A number of manufacturers were already authorised to manufacture herbal medicines before the Directive came into force. Since the implementation of the Directive all of the small number of manufacturers who have applied specifically to manufacture registered herbal medicines have been authorised.

Herbal Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications for product registrations under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive have been received by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to date; and how many of those applications have been approved.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has so far received 38 applications from 14 companies to register products under the traditional herbal registration scheme. To date 17 registrations have been granted and the remaining applications are under assessment.

Herbal Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the regulatory impact of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive on  (a) small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers of herbal remedies,  (b) specialist retailers and  (c) consumer choice.

Dawn Primarolo: In its regulatory impact assessment of the traditional herbal registration (THR) scheme the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) estimated that typically the costs of registering a product under the scheme could be several tens of thousand pounds but that the figure would vary widely according to specific circumstances, not least depending on whether companies already had systematic quality control systems in place. This assessment has not changed. A steadily expanding THR scheme, alongside the availability of licensed herbal medicines, will offer consumers wide choice of over the counter herbal medicines made to assured standards of safety, quality and product information. The likelihood of increased consumer confidence in the standards of products, including the reliability of product information, could also be of benefit to responsible specialist manufacturers and retailers.

Herbal Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of herbal products marketed under the provisions of Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968 as medicines exempt from the need for a licence in the last 30 years; how many and what percentage of those products will need to secure registrations under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and what steps he is taking to assist manufacturers with this process.

Dawn Primarolo: Companies are not required to notify the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of products marketed under section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968, therefore no estimates are available in relation to these products. Following the expiry of the transitional period permitted under Directive 2004/24/EC manufactured herbal medicines placed on the market will require either a marketing authorisation or a traditional herbal registration (THR). As now there will continue to be some herbal products that potentially can be placed on the market either as medicinal products or under other product regulatory regimes depending on their presentation.
	The MHRA continues to provide a range of help to companies aimed at helping them to progress plans to register products including holding meetings with companies to discuss the progress of actual or prospective applications under the THR scheme and providing a range of detailed advice via the agency's website.

Herbal Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date herbal products marketed under the provisions of Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968 as medicines exempt from the need for a licence will need to secure a registration under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and whether he plans to ask the European Union to extend that deadline.

Dawn Primarolo: From 30 April 2011 no herbal medicine within the scope of Directive 2004/24/EC may be placed on the market or distributed by way of wholesale dealing without a traditional herbal registration. As now there will continue to be some herbal products that potentially can be placed on the market either as medicinal products or under other product regulatory regimes depending on their presentation. We have no plans to ask the European Commission to propose legislation extending the deadline in Directive 2004/24/EC.

Herbal Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what charges are levied by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for processing applications for product registrations under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive for  (a) single ingredient and  (b) complex products.

Dawn Primarolo: The current fees for registering applications for products under the traditional herbal registration scheme range from 555 for single existing ingredient to 7,480 for complex new products. The fees charged by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are set at a level to reflect fairly the cost related to each activity. These fee levels and costs are reviewed closely every year. This is in line with HM Treasury guidance.
	MHRA fees for registering herbal products are significantly lower than those levied on pharmaceutical companies for the registration of other medicines. The fees are based on an estimate of the amount of time it takes to undertake each of the activities and the costs of the relevant staff required to undertake these activities. Applications that are more complex take longer to assess and can require staff with more experience to undertake the work. These costs are reflected in the fee charged. The fee of 7,480 for processing applications for registration of complex herbal products containing two or more ingredients not previously assessed by the agency reflects the additional work necessary when assessing ingredients for the first time.

HIV Infection: Prisoners

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department was of conducting the last Public Health Laboratory Service survey into HIV and hepatitis rates in prisons.

Ivan Lewis: The last Public Health Laboratory Service study of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence in prisoners in England and Wales was conducted in 1997 and 1998. The cost to the Department at that time is not available.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many home information packs have been commissioned by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to market a residential property; for which properties; at what cost; and whether a voluntary home condition report was purchased as part of the packs.

Ben Bradshaw: Neither the Department nor its agencies have commissioned a home information pack in respect of the marketing of a residential property.

Hospital Wards: Gender

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of mixed sex accommodation in hospitals.

Ann Keen: We are committed to reducing mixed sex accommodation to an absolute minimum, and where possible eliminating it. To this end, The Operating Framework. For the NHS in England 2008-09, requires primary care trusts to review the current situation in all trusts and agree, publish and implement stretching local plans for improvement in delivering single sex accommodation, with identified timescales and monitoring mechanisms. The framework specifically requires that patient survey results, where available, be used as the monitoring mechanism.
	The need to treat and admit patients will on occasions need to take priority over provision of a single sex accommodation. We emphasise that under such circumstances, good standards of segregation can be achieved within a mixed ward, for example by using single rooms or single sex bays.

Hospitals: Admissions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for the statement on page 21 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care that rates of emergency hospital admissions for long-term conditions vary more than twofold across the country.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department uses hospital episodes statistics data, which provides information on emergency hospital admissions in each primary care trust.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to repeat its deep clean of all NHS hospitals in 2008-09.

Ann Keen: There are no plans for the Department to take part in planning a further national-level programme of deep cleaning hospitals in England. Rather, national health service trusts' strategic and operational cleaning plans are expected to make provision for ongoing deep cleaning activity.

Hospitals: Food

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he provides to hospitals on reducing waste from the meals they provide.

Ann Keen: The Department issued 'Managing Food Waste in the NHS' in March 2005. This document provides best practice guidance for catering managers, nurses, ward housekeepers, doctors, dieticians and the ward-based teams in general. It identifies reasons why wastage occurs and provides guidance on reducing the volume of food that is supplied or cooked, but is not subsequently served. It also provides guidance on identifying the responsibilities for reducing waste and on the factors likely to be involved in wastage. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Hertfordshire

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many missed appointments there have been  (a) at St. Albans City Hospital,  (b) in West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and  (c) in East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust in the last 12 months; and what the cost of missed appointments in each category was in that period.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about missed appointments ('did not attends'DNAs) is collected at national health service trust level, not at individual hospital level. The following table contains information about DNAs at West Hertfordshire hospitals NHS trust, which includes St. Albans City hospital, and at East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust in 2007-08. Information about the cost of missed appointments is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  DNAs in Hertfordshire acute NHS trusts in 2007-08 
			   DNAs 
			  Organisation  First out-patient attendances  Subsequent out-patient attendances  In-patient  Total 
			 West Hertfordshire hospitals NHS trust 6,939 25,570 725 33,234 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust 8,950 18,414 561 27,925 
			  Source:  Department of Health Form Quarterly activity return: provider-based.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average cost to the NHS is per in-patient of treating healthcare associated infections, including those who do not contract an infection;
	(2)  what the average cost to the NHS is of treating a patient with  (a) MRSA,  (b) clostridium difficile,  (c) norovirus and  (d) other healthcare-associated infections.

Ann Keen: The Department does not routinely collect this information and no single definitive cost figure exists. However, a study by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS)(1) in 1999 estimated that hospital-acquired infections (HCAIs) cost the national health service 1 billion a year. This is still the best available estimate of NHS costs, although based on data from 1994-95. There were 11.4 million in-patient episodes in 1994-95. This suggests that the cost of HCAIs in 1994-95 was equivalent to 87 per patient. A cost of 87 in 1994-95 would be equivalent to 137 in 2006-07 prices (applying standard deflators).
	Estimates of the cost of treating specific infections are not available. The Department published a 'HCAI productivity costing(1)' tool in May 2006, which suggested a cost of around 4,300 per HCAI case in 2003-04. This analysis was based primarily on the PHLS report and figures were uprated to 2003-04 prices using standard deflators.
	 Sources:
	(1) R. Plowman, N. Graves, M. Griffin, J. A. Roberts, A. V. Swan, B. Cookson, L. Taylor. The socio-economic burden of hospital acquired infection. Public Health Laboratory Service 1999.
	2 Costing tool available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4134551

Hospitals: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards his Department expects NHS trusts to meet in relation to the privacy and dignity of changing facilities provided for patients.

Ben Bradshaw: Health Building Note 12: 'Out-patients Department' (NHS Estates, 2004) recommends for consulting examination rooms, that there should be sufficient space within a curtained area for a patient to undress/dress in privacy, with assistance when required.
	Health Building Note 10-02: Surgical Services' (Department of Health, May 2007) recommends the provision of individual changing rooms for admissions leading to either a dedicated individual waiting space for every patient or separate male, female and children's waiting provision.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the size of NHS waiting lists was  (a) in 2005 and  (b) at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The waiting lists for in-patient admission and for first consultant led out-patient appointment following general practitioner referral are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Period ending  In-patient  Out-patient 
			 December 2005 784,316 1,190,637 
			 May 2008 543,595 854,210 
			  Note:  Figures are provider based, for NHS trusts in England.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average inpatient treatment waiting times were  (a) in 2005 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Period ending  Median in-patient waiting time (weeks) 
			 December 2005 7.6 
			 May 2008 4.3 
			  Note: Figures are commissioner based collated from primary care trusts in England.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Plan's target of a maximum six month wait for inpatient treatment has been achieved.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service continues to deliver the 26-week in-patient maximum waiting standard established in December 2005, with only a small number of breaches representing a tiny fraction of the total waiting list.
	At the end of May 2008, 42 patients were waiting longer than the 26 weeks in-patient admission compared with 284,000 at the end of March 1997, a reduction of around 99.9 per cent. The average waiting time for an in-patient admission has fallen from 13 weeks in 1997 to 4.3 weeks in May 2008.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of NHS trusts in reducing accident and emergency waiting times to below the four hour target.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service trusts in England are expected to meet the four hour accident and emergency (A and E) operational standard of 98 per cent. of patients being seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours of their arrival at A and E. This standard is set out as an existing commitment for the NHS to meet in The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 2008-09.
	The waiting experience for millions of patients in A and E has dramatically improved from just a few years ago. For two out of the last three financial years, trusts have exceeded the A and E four hour operational standard. For 2007-08 as a whole performance was just below the operational standard, however the overwhelming majority of trusts are still achieving the four hour standard. Performance against the standard is published on a quarterly basis and is available at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data_requests/index.htm
	The Healthcare Commission also uses A and E performance as part of its annual health check.
	It is a local matter for NHS trusts to ensure that they meet the A and E four hour operational standard. In cases of underperforming trusts, the Department seeks assurances via the strategic health authority that NHS trusts have plans in place for improvement in A and E performance, in providing high quality, timely care to patients.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) emergency and  (b) elective admissions to NHS hospitals there were in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the number of emergency and elective admissions to hospital in England during the last three years for which figures are available.
	
		
			   Emergency admissions  Elective admissions 
			 2006-07 4,700,017 6,225,149 
			 2005-06 4,659,054 6,000,013 
			 2004-05 4,429,121 5,700,347 
			  Notes:  1. Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Data Quality: HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 national health service trusts and primary care trusts in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  3. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been on-going improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be counted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  4. Ungrossed Data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Human Embryo Experiments

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consideration he has given to the development of a policy on single embryo transfer.

Dawn Primarolo: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has launched a strategy to reduce the number of multiple births following fertility treatment from 24 per cent. nationally to 10 per cent. over three years. The basis of the strategy is that the transfer of one embryo at a time, where this is clinically appropriate, will reduce the health risks of multiple births for mother and babies. The strategy is being implemented in partnership with professional bodies, patient groups and clinics. We have established an expert group on commissioning national health service infertility provision, which will take account of the HFEA's programme of work in this area.

Industrial Health and Safety: Nuclear Power Stations

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has  (a) conducted and  (b) commissioned an analysis of estimated radiation doses to members of critical groups living near nuclear power plants from (i) nuclide emissions averaged over one year and (ii) nuclide emissions over a few days resulting from reactor re-fuelling.

Dawn Primarolo: We have been advised that the Food Standards Agency conducts assessments of doses to members of the public, including critical groups, living in the vicinity of licensed nuclear sites. These are based on both authorised annual and short term discharge limits to ensure they are within the dose limit of 1 millisievert. Actual doses to the critical groups are estimated from the findings of annual food and environmental monitoring surveys, published in the Radioactivity in Food Environment reports annually. The Environment Agency is responsible for the authorisation of radioactive discharges from nuclear power plants.

Infectious Diseases

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the trend in cryptosporidium infections has been in the last five years; and what steps are being taken to combat the sources of this infection.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of cases of Cryptosporidium infections reported in England in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Total 
			 2003 5,540 
			 2004 3,431 
			 2005 4,075 
			 2006 3,479 
			 2007 2,881 
			  Source: Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	The Water Supply (Water Quality) 2000 (amendment) Regulations 2007 as amended require all water companies to assess their water supplies for the risk of Cryptosporidium and to take appropriate measures to ensure water is safe to drink.

Infertility: Medical Treatments

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend the NHS co-payment scheme to infertility treatment.

Ben Bradshaw: It is up to individual primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission infertility services, taking into account local health care commissioning priorities. We are working with the patient support organisation Infertility Network UK to help PCTs share best practice in the provision of these services and we have established an expert group on commissioning national health service infertility provision to provide advice to the Department and to PCT commissioners.
	This is separate from the review that the Secretary of State announced on 17 June 2008, where he asked Professor Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for cancer, to review policy relating to patients who choose to pay privately for drugs not funded on the NHS and who, as a result, are required to pay for the NHS care that they would otherwise have received free. The review will report to the Secretary of State in October.

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 361-62W, on injuries: offensive weapons, how many people were admitted to hospital with  (a) stab wounds and  (b) gunshot wounds aged (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 18 and (iii) over 18 years (A) in each year from 1996-97 to 2001-02 and (B) in 2007-08, broken down by strategic health authority.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 16 July 2008
	Information is collected on the number of finished admission episodes to hospital. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission as part of an episode of care within the year.
	Part (i) of this parliamentary question refers to stab wounds therefore the clinical code X99Assault by sharp object, has been used. This code includes cases where someone has been attacked using a sharp object of some kind (including but not exclusive to knives).
	There is another code W26contact with a knife, sword or dagger. This code is used for such diagnoses as accidental knife injuries and excludes assault. Therefore code W26 has not been used in this answer.
	Information is not available for 2007-08 until December 2008. For this reason, 2006-07 data has been provided instead. The following three tables provide numbers by strategic health authority and age category; provides rates (number of admissions per 100,000 of the population) per strategic health authority; and summarises national data. When interpreting the data, reference should be made to the notes and clinical codes.
	
		
			  Total number of admissions* to hospital for stab wounds** and gunshot wounds***  for 2006-07, broken down by age and strategic heal th authority (SHA) of Residence,  national health service hospitals, England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			Gunshot wound s*** 
			   SHA of residence  Under 16 admissions  16-18 admissions  Over 18 admissions  Unknown age 
			  England total 181 208 925 1 
			 Q30 North East Strategic Health Authority 14 11 46 0 
			 Q31 North West Strategic Health Authority 50 38 190 0 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority 21 24 93 0 
			 Q33 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority 18 9 69 0 
			 Q34 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority 21 28 123 0 
			 Q35 East of England Strategic Health Authority 13 16 74 0 
			 Q36 London Strategic Health Authority 10 38 160 1 
			 Q37 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority 9 19 45 0 
			 Q38 South Central Strategic Health Authority 8 9 40 0 
			 Q39 South West Strategic Health Authority 13 14 52 0 
			 Y Unknown 0 2 17 0 
			  Non-English SHA of residence 4 0 16 0 
		
	
	
		
			Stab wound s** 
			   SHA of residence  Under 16 admissions  16-18 admissions  Over 18 admissions  Unknown Age 
			  England total 179 752 4,786 3 
			 Q30 North East Strategic Health Authority 10 36 313 0 
			 Q31 North West Strategic Health Authority 24 142 968 0 
			 032 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority 19 58 498 0 
			 Q33 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority 9 29 321 0 
			 Q34 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority 16 93 474 0 
			 Q35 East of England Strategic Health Authority 6 39 249 0 
			 Q36 London Strategic Health Authority 72 252 1,071 0 
			 Q37 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority * 21 209 0 
			 Q38 South Central Strategic Health Authority * 29 194 1 
			 Q39 South West Strategic Health Authority 12 25 267 0 
			 Y Unknown 1 21 103 1 
			  Non-English SHA of residence 0 7 119 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Total number of admissions* to hospital for stab wounds** for years 1996-97 to 2001-02, broken down by age and strategic health authority (SHA) of residence, national health service hospital s  England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			2001-02  2000-01 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 132 508 3,973 29 130 444 3,662 13 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA * 15 86  * * 108  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA * 10 77  * * 64  
			 Q03 Essex HA * 10 90  * 12 77  
			 Q04 North West London HA 6 33 207 8 * 23 171 2 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 9 22 198 1 11 24 173 1 
			 Q06 North East London HA 9 42 273  17 46 246  
			 Q07 South East London HA 13 33 217 1 8 28 218  
			 Q08 South West London HA 7 9 122 3 * 15 81 1 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 7 21 168  * 21 152  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 11 14 129  * 11 97  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA * * 76 3 * 9 67  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA * 24 176  9 19 139  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA * 22 176  8 13 144  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 12 49 305  17 40 347  
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 9 36 261  * 26 203  
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA * 14 81  * * 85  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA * 10 64  * 7 58  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA * 12 65  * * 69  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 6 15 88 3 * 12 92 2 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA * 9 98  * 13 109  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA * * 59  * 7 39  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 0 * 27  * 10 43  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA * 11 86  * 10 108  
			 Q24 Trent HA * 16 160  * 16 170  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA * 7 94  * 6 59  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA * * 35  * * 39  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 7 34 306 1 7 42 278 1 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA * 10 79  * * 78  
			 S Scotland 0 0 *  0 * *  
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified 0 * 53 2 0 6 52 2 
			 W Wales * 0 10  0 0 10  
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 0 * 7  0 * 7  
			 Y Not Known 0 6 94 7 * * 72 4 
			 Z Northern Ireland 0 0 *  0 0 *  
		
	
	
		
			1999-2000  1998-99 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 118 437 3,549 21 88 355 3,206 18 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 0 8 106  * 7 77  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA * 7 46  * * 47  
			 Q03 Essex HA * 13 86  0 10 64  
			 Q04 North West London HA * 25 157 4 * 17 146 0 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 8 31 150 2 * 15 124 4 
			 Q06 North East London HA 7 27 199 3 * 25 172  
			 Q07 South East London HA 8 31 171  * 11 154 2 
			 Q08 South West London HA * 10 76 1 * 8 74  
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA * 24 149  * 14 142  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA * 11 103  * 12 92 1 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA * * 77  6 13 91  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 8 15 149  * 16 134  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA * 12 143  * 11 131  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 16 54 422  14 35 347 2 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 6 25 208  8 22 205 1 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 0 15 91  0 8 74 1 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 0 6 58  * 7 75  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA * 8 56 1 * * 52  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA * * 101  * 6 67  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA * 9 112  * 9 110  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA * 7 48  * 7 54  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 0 6 37  * * 47  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA * 7 98  * 12 80  
			 Q24 Trent HA 9 13 155 1 * 20 111  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA * 9 56  * 8 89  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA * * 51  * * 46  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 6 34 253 1 * 30 239 1 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA * 7 70  * * 68  
			 S Scotland 0 * *  0 * *  
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified 0 0 0  0 0 0  
			 W Wales 0 * 20 4 0 0 18 3 
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) * * *  * * 9  
			 Y Not Known 0 * 91 4 * 10 65 3 
			 Z Northern Ireland 0 0 0  0 0 *  
		
	
	
		
			1997-98  1996-97 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 112 422 3,283 58 114 416 3,360 52 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA * 10 99  * 11 89  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA * 8 61  * 14 69 1 
			 Q03 Essex HA 0 * 85  0 6 69  
			 Q04 North West London HA * 29 198  * 9 172 4 
			 Q05 North Central London HA * 14 129  * 16 130 2 
			 Q06 North East London HA * 22 187 2 10 28 228  
			 Q07 South East London HA 7 22 151 2 8 28 158 1 
			 Q08 South West London HA 6 12 79  * 19 107  
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA * 12 127  7 17 143  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 8 17 82  6 13 107  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA * * 32  0 8 36  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 8 18 142  7 12 139  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 7 17 133  * 10 110  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 14 48 382  17 50 358  
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA * 28 194  * 20 242 1 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA * 8 87  * 15 68  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA * 9 50  * * 41  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA * 6 61  0 * 56  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA * 11 105 1 * 9 122  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA * 9 84  * 14 109  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA * 14 62  0 10 52  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA * * 32  * 6 33  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA * 9 82  * 7 72  
			 Q24 Trent HA 6 13 106  * 18 126  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA * 9 74  0 8 60  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 0 6 45  0 * 38  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA * 33 233 1 18 39 270  
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA * 10 75 1 * 6 70  
			 S Scotland 0 0 *  0 0 *  
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified 0 * 21 1 0 * 16 4 
			 W Wales * * 13  0 * 6  
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 0 0 *  0 * *  
			 Y Not Known 0 14 65 50 * * 59 39 
			 Z Northern Ireland 0 * *  0 0 0  
		
	
	
		
			  Total number of admissions* to hospital  for gunshot  wounds** *  for years 1996-97 to 2001-02, broken down by age and strategic health authority (SHA) of residence, national health service hospital s  England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			2001-02  2000-01 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 321 206 890 3 287 192 641 2 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 12 * 26  6 * 19  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA * * 15  6 8 12  
			 Q03 Essex HA 6 6 13  7 * 16  
			 Q04 North West London HA * * 27  *  28  
			 Q05 North Central London HA * 7 41  * * 21  
			 Q06 North East London HA 6 * 51  12 * 32  
			 Q07 South East London HA 9 * 44  * * 40  
			 Q08 South West London HA * * 17  *  12  
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 9 14 24  24 12 16  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 18 * 15  14 6 *  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 13 9 24 1 10 10 20  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 16 21 64  18 14 35  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 16 15 32  14 11 37  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 35 26 62  33 22 54 1 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 27 14 56  15 11 43  
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 8 7 21  9 * 25  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 8  24  * * 19  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 13 9 25  9 * 14  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 9 * 28 1 6 * 16  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 13 * 32  11 * 16  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 8 * 13  9 * 15  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 11 * 17  6 * *  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 21 10 30  18 9 21  
			 Q24 Trent HA 17 11 41  14 10 22  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA * * 19  * 7 18  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 11 * 13  9 6 14  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 15 10 61  15 10 37  
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA * * 16  * * 16  
			 S Scotland   *  
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified  * 70  
			 W Wales *  *  *  *  
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands)   10  * * *  
			 Y Not Known * * 17 1 * * 6 1 
			 Z Northern Ireland 
		
	
	
		
			1999-2000  1998-99 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 362 189 618 1 279 158 548 2 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 10 7 28  13 * 32  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 11 * 12  * * 9  
			 Q03 Essex HA 12 * 21  8 * 19  
			 Q04 North West London HA *  24 1  * 15 1 
			 Q05 North Central London HA * * 16  * * 8  
			 Q06 North East London HA 13 6 22  * * 22  
			 Q07 South East London HA 7 * 26  * * 34  
			 Q08 South West London HA * * 16  * * 7 1 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 12 6 31  18 11 22  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 7 9 12  15 8 12  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 9 * 15  7 8 17  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 18 8 37  22 14 18  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 22 13 17  12 10 22  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 50 22 74  23 18 55  
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 33 10 31  29 10 33  
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 14 7 16  * * 16  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 11 * 16  9  14  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA * 6 *  6 * 12  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 9 * 13  12 * 23  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 14 * 23  * 8 14  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 12 * 14  10 * 11  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA * * *  6 * 12  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 15 10 17  16 * 18  
			 Q24 Trent HA 20 9 37  18 8 37  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 9 * 14  * * 15  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 8 13 16  10 6 12  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 16 9 34  8 * 18  
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA 8 * 13  8 * 11  
			 S Scotland   *  
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified 
			 W Wales * * *   * *  
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) *  **  
			 Y Not Known * * * 0  * *  
			 Z Northern Ireland   **  
		
	
	
		
			1997-98  1996-97 
			Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age  Under 16  16 to 18  Over 18  Unknown age 
			  England Total 260 146 579 9 333 168 572 11 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 8 6 17  9 * 24  
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA * * 8  7 * 13  
			 Q03 Essex HA * * 16  9 6 16  
			 Q04 North West London HA * 6 24  6 * 17  
			 Q05 North Central London HA * * 17  * * 12  
			 Q06 North East London HA * * 20  * * 19  
			 Q07 South East London HA 8 * 32  * 8 37  
			 Q08 South West London HA * * 14  *  21  
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 17 9 15  29 6 30  
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 8 * 19  19 * 11  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 7 * *  * * 6  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 21 10 26  18 7 32  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 17 14 22  20 7 20  
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 24 20 53  34 23 51  
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 14 6 38  17 12 47  
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA * * 18  9 * 14  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 8 * 15  9 * 10  
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA * * 18  8 * 15  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA * * 24  11 6 19  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 7 * 22  6 9 14  
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 9 6 10  10 * 6  
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA * * 10  9 * 6  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 11 6 *  13 11 17  
			 Q24 Trent HA 12 12 30  23 8 22  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 9 * 18  * * 17  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 12 * 17  13 * 8  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 17  33  17 12 23  
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA * * 9  8 * 23  
			 S Scotland 
			 U EnglandNot Otherwise Specified   *   * *  
			 W Wales *  *  6 * *  
			 X Foreign (Including Isle of Man and Channel Islands)   *  
			 Y Not Known *  16 9 * * 13 11 
			 Z Northern Ireland 
			  Notes: * The technical term for what has been supplied is finished admission episodes.  Assignment of Episodes to Years Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. Cause codestab wounds** and gunshot wounds*** The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) has used the following ICD-10 external cause codes when referring to gunshot wounds and knife-related injuries. ** Stab wounds: X99.Assault by sharp object *** Gunshot wounds: W32.Handgun discharge W33.Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge W34.Discharge from other and unspecified firearms X72.Intentional self-harm by handgun discharge X73.Intentional self-harm by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge X74.Intentional self-harm by other and unspecified firearm discharge X93.Assault by handgun discharge X94.Assault by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge X95.Assault by other and unspecified firearm discharge Y22.Handgun discharge, undetermined intent Y23.Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge, undetermined intent Y24.Other and unspecified firearm discharge, undetermined intent Y35.0 Legal intervention involving firearm discharge Y36.4 War operations involving firearm discharge and other forms of conventional warfare  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected, the NHS there have seen ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Low Numbers Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk).  PCT and SHA Data Quality PCT and SHA data was added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of Treatment and SHA of Treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.  Source: HES, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Lasers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 205W, on lasers, what further research and evidence was brought to light to support the proposals to deregulate class 3B and 4 lasers and intense light sources.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department will shortly publish its response to the Private and Voluntary Healthcare Consultation. It will include an analysis of further research and evidence that has come to light and this will be fully taken into account when drawing up the final impact assessment regarding the proposals to deregulate class 3B and 4 lasers and intense light sources.

Learning Disability: Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much income each local authority received in  (a) fees and charges and  (b) charges only from services for adults with a learning disability expressed as a percentage of total expenditure on such services over the last five years; and what such total expenditure was over this period.

Ivan Lewis: Data on fee and charges only and charges only is not collected centrally. However, data on sales, fees and charges is available.
	A table which shows the gross expenditure and the sales, fees and charges of clients age 18-64 with learning disabilities as a percentage of gross expenditure on that client group from 2002-03 to 2006-07 has been placed in the Library.

Learning Disability: Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total net expenditure on services for people with a learning disability under 65 years was for the last 10 years for each local authority for  (a) assessment and care management,  (b) nursing home placements,  (c) residential care home placements,  (d) supported and other accommodation,  (e) direct payments,  (f) home care,  (g) day care,  (h) equipment and adaptations,  (i) meals and  (j) remaining services.

Ivan Lewis: The information has been placed in the Library.
	Data prior to 2000-01 is not held centrally.

Learning Disability: Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total net expenditure on services for people with a learning disability over 65 years was for the last year for which figures are available,  (a) excluding and  (b) including expenditure on the Supporting People initiative.

Ivan Lewis: This data is not held centrally.

Learning Disability: Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many assessment reviews have been carried out for people with a learning disability in each local authority over the last 10 years; and what the outcome of such assessments were in each case;
	(2)  how many first time service assessments have been carried out for people with a learning disability in each local authority area in the last 10 years; and what the outcome of such assessments were in each case.

Ivan Lewis: Information has been placed in the Library.
	In 2003-04 an assessment was re-defined as the first assessment for a new client. In the years prior to 2003-04 an assessment included the re-assessment or unscheduled review of need of a current service user. A review prior to 2003-04 was defined as an examination of the client's needs and services at or by a pre-determined date.
	Therefore data from 2003-04 onwards is not comparable with previous years.

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of working days lost due to industrial action in each year since 2003 are presented in the following table. The Department changed payroll provider contracts in 2003 and the cost of retrieving the required information for 1997 to 2003 would be disproportionate.
	
		
			   Total  Dates of industrial action  Number of staff days lost due to industrial action 
			 2008 (Up to 11 July ) 0  0 
			 2007 493 1 May 203 
			   31 January 290 
			 2006 0  0 
			 2005 0  0 
			 2004 267 5 November 267

Lung Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lung cancer patients there were in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many lung cancer patients there were aged  (a) 49 years and under,  (b) 50 to 59,  (c) 60 to 69,  (d) 70 to 79 and  (e) over 80 years in each cancer network in that year.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell dated, 1 September 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lung cancer patients there were in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many lung cancer patients there were aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79 and (e) over 80 years in each cancer network in that year.
	The latest estimations of prevalence can be found in p19-20 of Cancer Trends in England and Wales 1950-1999, available at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=4822
	The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer registered in England are for the year 2005. Figures for patients diagnosed with lung cancer by specified age group and Cancer Network are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Table 1: Lung cancer( 1)  patients in 2005, by cancer network( 2)  and age group 
			  Cancer Network  0-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80+  All ages 
			 England 954 3,583 7,864 11,027 7,569 30,997 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria 32 123 320 363 256 1,094 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire 68 260 642 820 492 2,282 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire 47 196 490 650 433 1,816 
			 Yorkshire 46 220 450 644 387 1,747 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast 24 80 185 275 143 707 
			 North Trent 36 158 368 542 345 1,449 
			 Pan Birmingham 40 137 334 472 257 1,240 
			 Arden 10 66 138 201 121 536 
			 Mid Trent 33 134 229 383 227 1,006 
			 Derby/Burton 17 54 103 148 123 445 
			 Leicestershire Northants and Rutland 24 116 212 347 219 918 
			 Mount Vernon 25 68 163 222 167 645 
			 West London 36 104 212 254 208 814 
			 North London 23 81 171 223 181 679 
			 North East London 30 90 155 268 201 744 
			 South East London 38 98 212 289 211 848 
			 South West London 31 77 196 214 189 707 
			 Peninsula 31 122 244 333 290 1,020 
			 Dorset 13 33 109 173 110 438 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire 43 114 227 374 273 1,031 
			 3 Counties 16 56 134 180 138 524 
			 Thames Valley 29 117 237 356 267 1,006 
			 Central South Coast 36 135 252 402 275 1,100 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire 14 58 122 166 156 516 
			 Sussex 12 81 160 241 231 725 
			 Kent and Medway 34 98 242 306 280 960 
			 Greater Midlands 35 124 320 399 271 1,149 
			 North of England 71 302 691 955 560 2,579 
			 Anglia 40 189 349 541 382 1,501 
			 Essex 20 92 197 286 176 771 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Cancer Network boundaries as at January 2008.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Lung Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lung cancer patients in each  (a) cancer network and  (b) strategic health authority area received (i) surgical resection, (ii) active, anti-cancer treatment and (iii) radiotherapy in each year since 1997-98.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lung cancer patients in each (a) cancer network and (b) strategic health authority area received (i) surgical resection, (ii) active, anti-cancer treatment and (iii) radiotherapy in each year since 1997-98.
	The latest year for which data are available on the national cancer registry database, which ONS operates on behalf of the Department of Health, is 2005. Tables 1-3 below show the number of cases of lung cancer, newly diagnosed in each of the years 1997-2005 in the specified geographical areas, receiving (i) surgical, (ii) hormonal and other treatments and (iii) radiotherapy as initial treatments. In 55 per cent of lung cancer cases in the database during the period, either no treatment information was recorded or patients were recorded as having had no treatment. Ten per cent of cases were recorded as receiving more than one treatment.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer( 1)  receiving surgical treatment( 2) , by Strategic Health Authority and Cancer Network( 3) , England, 1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 3,339 2,907 3,026 3,000 2,913 2,750 2,701 2,775 3,120 
			   
			  Strategic Health Authority  
			 North East 110 178 180 182 187 209 203 176 229 
			 North West 435 366 402 393 324 244 271 283 418 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 442 361 370 363 347 370 342 329 310 
			 East Midlands 424 357 362 337 296 262 247 248 207 
			 West Midlands 357 336 337 369 330 325 303 337 377 
			 East of England 311 310 304 299 325 317 309 283 472 
			 London 361 377 362 394 366 366 338 343 354 
			 South East Coast 162 178 157 189 195 188 206 215 202 
			 South Central 266 155 195 173 159 150 160 162 145 
			 Southwest 471 289 357 301 384 319 322 399 406 
			   
			  Cancer network  
			 3 Counties 56 47 60 56 57 59 44 51 51 
			 Anglia 165 161 156 162 146 161 168 162 162 
			 Arden 49 60 60 45 49 44 48 61 56 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire 148 80 128 90 132 91 97 147 153 
			 Central South Coast 201 73 115 106 116 131 108 137 124 
			 Derby/Burton 61 52 45 55 32 86 55 64 53 
			 Dorset 133 40 53 53 59 50 40 51 63 
			 Essex 50 49 48 36 77 75 77 57 211 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire 174 158 157 130 145 143 159 179 194 
			 Greater Midlands 130 117 106 125 123 121 108 128 132 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast 104 89 103 78 84 83 75 78 76 
			 Kent and Medway 49 56 51 70 66 66 62 77 80 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria 73 81 85 78 67 77 78 55 52 
			 Leicestershire Northants and Rutland 108 138 122 139 119 97 91 98 84 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire 178 119 149 162 92 8 17 33 158 
			 Mid Trent 234 150 174 126 124 70 82 80 57 
			 Mount Vernon 83 81 85 77 80 59 51 51 59 
			 North East London 78 71 71 93 90 85 101 78 63 
			 North London 80 111 102 104 79 85 77 71 91 
			 North of England 131 188 196 214 218 233 227 201 251 
			 North Trent 128 122 97 83 105 100 82 65 57 
			 Pan Birmingham 147 128 136 168 124 126 124 117 162 
			 Peninsula 136 127 119 105 137 133 142 157 151 
			 South East London 86 72 64 63 84 76 58 86 90 
			 South West London 63 67 69 80 70 69 59 80 74 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire 47 53 58 66 65 54 78 57 52 
			 Sussex 51 56 48 36 46 41 51 58 56 
			 Thames Valley 95 109 104 98 75 43 75 50 37 
			 West London 76 82 74 89 77 89 67 53 86 
			 Yorkshire 225 170 191 213 175 195 200 193 185 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (2) More than one type of treatment was recorded for some cases. (3) Cancer Network boundaries as at January 2008.  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer( 1)  receiving hormonal and other treatment( 2) , by Strategic Health Authority( 3) , England, 1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 3,166 2,472 2,077 409 381 455 443 368 594 
			   
			  Strategic Health Authority  
			 North East 0 1 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 
			 North West 339 236 9 9 10 5 35 35 14 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 745 739 639 45 15 27 36 13 27 
			 East Midlands 1,637 1,369 1,129 39 61 83 89 87 100 
			 West Midlands 11 6 17 5 0 2 1 0 10 
			 East of England 62 43 138 155 155 172 156 97 315 
			 London 150 53 114 126 108 125 102 119 112 
			 South East Coast 78 19 31 27 30 37 22 14 16 
			 South Central 30 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 0 
			 South West 114 6 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (2 )More than one type of treatment was recorded for some cases. (3) Provision of Cancer Network figures for this table would entail disproportionate cost since detailed checks would be needed on whether comparison of the low numbers of treatments between the SHA and CN geographies might allow disclosure.  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer( 1)  receiving radiotherapy treatment( 2) , by Strategic Health Authority and Cancer Networ k( 3) , England, 1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 9,229 9,799 9,905 9,309 8,349 7,722 8,008 7,917 7,617 
			   
			  Strategic Health Authority  
			 North East 431 925 963 898 844 760 718 727 759 
			 North West 1,226 1,266 1,538 1,525 1,337 753 983 1,177 1,194 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,128 1,163 1,081 1,072 1,007 952 886 847 831 
			 East Midlands 478 456 560 551 491 450 389 377 343 
			 West Midlands 1,323 1,306 1,209 1,064 934 913 887 890 848 
			 East of England 1,342 1,240 1,217 1,149 1,030 1,112 1,010 1,010 1,028 
			 London 1,574 1,538 1,442 1,467 1,286 1,143 1,161 1,099 945 
			 South East Coast 972 1,049 891 963 827 745 706 681 640 
			 South Central 426 457 516 458 433 531 678 618 500 
			 South West 329 399 488 162 160 363 590 491 529 
			   
			  Cancer network  
			 3 Counties 86 118 100 56 42 31 21 69 118 
			 Anglia 658 626 612 611 490 550 524 541 619 
			 Arden 286 294 268 288 251 271 246 229 189 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire 191 239 237 74 103 143 256 209 233 
			 Central South Coast 62 91 131 33 40 214 393 299 162 
			 Derby/Burton 49 43 60 39 50 50 38 46 34 
			 Dorset 24 61 124 2 9 52 127 87 102 
			 Essex 341 325 297 279 293 355 310 289 230 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire 783 745 802 762 710 198 467 689 580 
			 Greater Midlands 541 501 439 412 350 307 335 329 278 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast 275 305 311 303 264 281 284 267 260 
			 Kent and Medway 414 416 376 409 354 302 294 273 218 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria 374 411 425 455 420 404 402 373 349 
			 Leicestershire Northants and Rutland 285 278 246 246 217 209 167 153 182 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire 21 23 222 206 106 49 29 30 187 
			 Mid Trent 94 97 200 197 189 162 133 131 86 
			 Mount Vernon 301 244 243 223 200 162 149 125 124 
			 North East London 365 309 299 300 250 206 208 168 97 
			 North London 269 259 270 244 231 219 181 193 175 
			 North of England 511 1,053 1,085 1,035 978 894 838 847 871 
			 North Trent 181 162 153 157 124 130 129 124 86 
			 Pan Birmingham 413 385 389 297 276 294 277 295 283 
			 Peninsula 86 87 76 61 39 145 172 100 129 
			 South East London 351 367 318 341 349 318 311 328 298 
			 South West London 298 321 332 354 255 228 251 225 241 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire 262 249 180 197 164 152 145 131 121 
			 Sussex 243 290 253 285 242 224 197 236 258 
			 Thames Valley 379 410 459 468 422 364 356 385 381 
			 West London 381 385 344 316 292 255 269 265 225 
			 Yorkshire 705 705 654 659 639 553 499 481 501 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (2) More than one type of treatment was recorded for some cases. (3) Cancer Network boundaries as at January 2008.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Malnutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) care homes and  (b) hospitals were rated high risk by the malnutrition universal screening tool in each of the last 24 months; and what the (i) mean, (ii) range and (ii) distribution in terms of length of time rated at high risk was.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally.

Medical Education England

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons Medical Education England will not have a commissioning function in addition to its advisory role, as referred to on page 73 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ann Keen: The Next Stage Review document A High Quality Workforce sets out the role and remit of Medical Education England in more detail than High Quality Care for All. It clarifies and confirms the role of the strategic health authorities (SHA) as commissioners of education. They are best placed to translate the workforce plans submitted by providers into education commissions, taking a whole system approach rather than just focussing on individual professions.
	The role of Medical Education England (MEE) in an advisory and scrutiny role will enable them to provide an overview of commissions at a local and national level and enable them to provide advice to the Department. This function could not be effectively performed if MEE were also commissioners of education.
	Professor Sir John Tooke provides a response to A High Quality Workforce in the document, in which he states
	I am particularly pleased to see the creation of Medical Education England which will give a strong voice and the scrutiny function that it needs.

Medical Examinations: Males

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage men between the ages of 20 and 35 years to have regular medical check-ups.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not targeted men in this age group specifically to encourage them to have regular medical check-ups. However, under the General Medical Services contract, general practitioner practices are required to invite all newly registered patients including men aged 20 to 35 years for a consultation within six months of registration and provide, on request, a consultation for patients aged 16-74 who have not had a consultation within the last three years.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data is currently being stored on the Summary Care Record.

Ben Bradshaw: The information in the summary care record (SCR) is extracted from the general practitioner's record and, at present, is limited to basic informationpersonal demographic details, current medications, adverse reactions and allergies.
	Whether additional information is added in the future will depend on decisions taken through the normal governance process to include clinical representations and patient preferences. Eventually, summaries of health problems and the care provided could be added and updated each time patients who choose to have a SCR receive national health service care. Clearly, the precise information stored on the SCR will differ from patient to patient.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many detailed care records are currently held in data centres operated by each of the National Programme for IT's local service providers;
	(2)  whether National Programme for IT's local service providers plan to operate a data centre for the detailed care records of each NHS care provider;
	(3)  how many data centres each of the National Programme for IT's local service providers plans to hold detailed care records;
	(4)  how many detailed care records are currently held in data centres operated by each of the National Programme for IT's local service providers.

Ben Bradshaw: All national programme for information technology systems which are able to be deployed to the national health service via a hosted solution from a secure, resilient, reliable, enterprise standard, data centre are supported through that means with appropriate business continuity and disaster recovery arrangements in place. By exception, there are some existing systems or additional services provided through local service providers that do not lend themselves to this technical approach at present.
	Currently the number of data centres used by local service providers (LSPs) is as follows:
	CSC: 4;
	BT LSP: 2;
	Fujitsu: 2; and
	Accenture: 2, for its Picture Archiving and Communications Service.
	There are no current plans to increase or decrease this number.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of detailed care records currently held in data centres.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the independent evaluation of the care record system commissioned from UCL cost;
	(2)  what plans he has to fund further independent evaluation of the Connecting for Health programme;
	(3)  when he will publish a response to the independent evaluation of the care records system commissioned from UCL.

Ben Bradshaw: The contracted cost of the independent evaluation of the summary care record (SCR) early adopters programme, carried out by a team from the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences at University College London, was 272,204.
	We have no current plans to publish a formal response to the evaluation team's findings. NHS Connecting for Health is considering and discussing the important issues raised in the evaluation report with key stakeholders, and the summary care record advisory group was asked to consider urgently the report's findings and to advise on how these will inform the future roll out of the SCR. As we have stated consistently, the findings and recommendations of the independent review will be taken into account in planning further roll out of the SCR.
	Under its Health Evaluation Programme, NHS Connecting for Health has commissioned a number of further projects to evaluate aspects of the national programme for information technology. The University of Birmingham has been commissioned to manage the evaluation programme. Further information on the programme, including details of current projects and on-going work, together with final reports and publications, is on the NHS Connecting for Health evaluation programme website, run by the university of Birmingham, at:
	www.pcpoh.bham.ac.uk/publichealth/cfhep/

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS care providers will maintain their own electronic patient records once the National Programme for IT's local service providers roll-out their strategic solutions on a national basis.

Ben Bradshaw: All clinicians are required by their professional bodies, and for clinical governance and medico-legal reasons to keep clear, accurate, legible and contemporaneous patient records, and to keep these secure and confidential. This is most often likely to be in electronic form. This is irrespective of the national programme for IT and systems implemented by local service providers. Patients are able to opt out of having their clinical information uploaded to the spine, the national database of key information about patients' health and care within the national health service care records service, by choosing not to have a summary care record.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks to patient confidentiality of publishing patients' care records to HealthSpace, as referred to on page 41 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Ben Bradshaw: While it is never possible to eliminate all risk, stringent security controls and safeguards have been put in place to prevent unrestricted or uncontrolled access to personal information accessible through HealthSpace. Authentication of patients seeking a HealthSpace account has been designed to operate within the specified e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-gif) requirements and industry best practices. In due course, when the technology to do so becomes available, registration requirements will be uprated to the next highest level.
	In addition, the HealthSpace system has been subjected to exhaustive penetration testing to demonstrate its resilience to unauthorised attempts by third parties to access data held within it. This testing will be repeated on a regular basis.
	Users will also be advised that securing confidentiality of their information accessible through HealthSpace is also in part a personal responsibility. The safeguarding of access controls, including PINS and passwords, is an example of personal responsibility, along with not choosing to access records at a time or location where others may see them. Users will be supported in this by means of standard technical measures used widely in secure electronic transactions, for example by the setting of a 'timeout', so that after a given period of inactivity the user is automatically logged off the system.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the security of confidential data of increasing the scope of access to the NHS Care Records Service to  (a) social care,  (b) voluntary sector,  (c) private sector,  (d) pharmacy and  (e) other organisations, as referred to on page 50 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care.

Ben Bradshaw: The vision for the NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS) is that it will support the delivery of care across all the settings where national health service patients may present for that care, including services provided by the private and voluntary sectors and in social care, pharmacy and other organisations. We have set out clearly in the Care Record Guarantee precisely what security and confidentiality standards must be met by all organisations that have access to the NHS CRS and all such organisations are required to provide assurance that they are meeting these standards. Compliance will be audited.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how legitimate relationships are established for determining access to the NHS care records service.

Ben Bradshaw: Legitimate relationships are a form of access control that prevent those who are not working in a team that is involved in providing national health service care to an individual from accessing that individual's clinical information. NHS organisations will determine which of their staff work within which teams for this purpose.
	A new legitimate relationship is normally created when a patient is referred to a team for care. This referral may be from a different part of the NHS or may be a self-referral by a patient, for example when attending a minor injuries unit, or when registering with a general practitioner's practice.
	Some clinicians, particularly those working in emergency care environments, are also able to establish a legitimate relationship with a patient when this is needed to support emergency care. These self-declared legitimate relationships generate an alert to staff responsible for ensuring that the facility is not misused.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which applications will have access to data stored in the NHS care records service; and which applications do not require a valid smartcard in order to access data in the NHS care records service.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Care Record Service links patient information from different parts of the national health service electronically so that authorised NHS staff and patients have the information they need to make care decisions. It comprises a number of national services, and compliant local applications, for example trust patient administration systems, and general practitioner systems. These local applications hold their own data and interact through messages with national services such as choose and book, the summary care record, and the personal demographics service. All local applications that interact with the national services require a valid smartcard.
	A number of interim stand-alone local systems have been deployed to support the NHS. These do not interact with the national services and may not use smartcards.

Medical Records: Databases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 206W, on medical records: databases, whether  (a) private sector suppliers,  (b) third sector suppliers and  (c) providers under the Framework for Procuring External Support for Commissioning will have access to patient data through the Secondary Uses Service.

Ben Bradshaw: The current proposals for pseudonymised data extracts from the Secondary Uses Service are that these will be available for any supplier who agrees the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions are being agreed but include, for example, limitations on the disclosure of data to third parties and the copying of data, and termination and liability clauses in the event of unauthorised disclosure of personally-identifiable information. There will also be a right of audit to verify adherence to the terms and conditions, which will be the key condition determining permission to access for those wishing to use the service.
	Once finalised, the terms and conditions will be published.

Medical Records: Lost Property

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  who will be responsible for the investigation aimed at finding lost patient NHS records in Leicester;
	(2)  what information was contained in the patients' NHS documents recently stolen in Leicester; and what investigation is taking place to retrieve the documents.

Ben Bradshaw: The police and Leicestershire County and Rutland primary care trust are responsible for the investigation.
	The East Midlands strategic health authority reports that a print out containing details of approximately 233 home oxygen patients; including name, address, national health service number and general practitioner details; and a laptop computer, containing the names, dates of birth and oxygen levels of three patients, were stolen from the boot of a nurse's car.

Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many treatments referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and assessed through its single technology appraisal process  (a) have and  (b) have not received a final appraisal determination within six months of receiving a product licence;
	(2)  what improvements he anticipates making to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's appraisal process, as referred to on page 44 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432;
	(3)  whether he plans to introduce a maximum time period in which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence must undertake technology appraisals; and what proportion of treatments he expects will receive their final appraisal determination within  (a) three and  (b) six months of receiving their product licence following the changes announced in High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 21 July 2008, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published final guidance for 21 single technology appraisals (STAs). NICE issued a final appraisal determination for four of these within six months of licensing.
	The Government are exploring with NICE options for further improving the topic selection and technology appraisal processes to support rapid appraisal of significant new drugs.
	We have no plans to introduce a maximum time period in which NICE must undertake technology appraisals as the time taken to develop guidance on a treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each case. NICE'S Guide to the Single Technology Appraisal (STA) process sets out the expected timescales for the development of guidance through the STA process, and is available on NICE'S website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/8DE/74/STA_Process_Guide.pdf.

Medical Treatments: Lasers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1708W, on medical treatments: lasers, if he will ensure that his Department's response to the Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000 consultation will include, in addition to an identification of organisations and individuals that responded, a list of those respondents who  (a) supported and  (b) opposed the Government's proposals for the deregulation of class 3B and 4 lasers and intense pulsed light sources.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's response to the Private and Voluntary Healthcare Consultation will include a full list of all the respondents and whether they supported or opposed the various proposals, including those relating to class 3B and 4 lasers and intense pulsed light sources.

Mental Health

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's definition of well-being is.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's Commissioning Framework for Health and Wellbeing, 2007, defines wellbeing as:
	The subjective state of being healthy, happy, contented, comfortable and satisfied with one's quality of life. It includes physical, material, social, emotional ('happiness'), and development and activity dimensions.

MRSA

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates changes to the measurement of his Department's target to halve MRSA rates by March 2008 were agreed; and on each date  (a) what change was made and  (b) which Minister approved the change.

Ann Keen: The target to halve meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections by March 2008 was announced in November 2004. The measurement period was not set at that point. However, the Department worked with strategic health authorities from 2005 on the assumption that achievement of the target would be judged by performance in the first quarter after the target date, i.e. in the quarter April to June 2008. This position was formally agreed with Ministers in February 2007. At no point have we changed how we are measuring the target. It is being measured in the same way as other national targets.

MRSA

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1653W, on MRSA, what examples of where a deep clean has had a demonstrable effect in improving patient care and experience have now been drawn up; and how these have been disseminated across the NHS.

Ann Keen: A number of national health service trusts have sent the Department case studies, which identify a range of activities undertaken as part of the deep clean programme. Trusts have also sent details of some of the initial benefits they have seen as a result of their deep cleaning activities. The Department is compiling a compendium of these case studies which will be published on the Department's website in due course.

MRSA: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date he expects screening for MRSA for  (a) elective and  (b) emergency admissions to be introduced; and what assessment he has made of progress towards the objective in each case.

Ann Keen: We will introduce meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening for all elective admissions by March 2009 and for all emergency admissions by 2011.
	The Operating Framework, which was published in December 2007, set out the priorities for the national health service for 2008-09. It put cleanliness and health care associated infections as one of five national priorities that require particular and sustained attention from primary care trusts, working with every organisation that provides care to national health service patients.
	As part of our ongoing discussions with the NHS, we are ensuring that the commitments set out in the framework are delivered.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms at current prices (i) was in each year since 1999-2000 and (ii) will be in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested for the financial years between 1999-2000 and 2008-09 is shown in the table. Departmental funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has not yet been finalised.
	
		
			  Departmental funding( 1)  for National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) since 1999-2000 
			   Cash ()  Real terms () 
			 1999-2000 9,826,000 12,016,485 
			 2000-01 9,280,000 11,189,351 
			 2001-02 12,023,000 14,157,864 
			 2002-03 14,510,000 16,568,088 
			 2003-04 16,602,000 18,422,922 
			 2004-05 18,215,000 19,669,564 
			 2005-06(2) 27,000,000 28,541,528 
			 2006-07 27,700,000 28,506,741 
			 2007-08(3) 33,400,000 33,400,000 
			 2008-09 32,415,000 31,470,874 
			 (1) NICE has other sources of funding that are not included in the table. (2) NICE took over the functions of the Health Development Agency on 1 April 2005. The step change in the NICE budget reflects this. (3) Includes non-recurrent brokerage of 2.7 million from 2006-07.

NHS

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1387, on the draft legislative programme, what minimum standards of  (a) access,  (b) quality and  (c) safety he is considering incorporating in the NHS constitution; whether those minimum standards will differ from the registration requirements to be enforced by the Care Quality Commission; whether he plans to incorporate the minimum standards in legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The draft NHS Constitution sets out a range of rights and national health service pledges relating to access, quality and safety.
	It is our intention to legislate to provide a legal duty on NHS organisations to take account of the Constitution in the decisions they make. Similarly, the government of the day will be obliged by law to renew the NHS Constitution every 10 years.
	Registration requirements will be set in regulations and will list the essential safety and quality requirements that providers must meet in order to be registered to provide health and adult social care services. The registration system will sit as a key part of a wider quality improvement framework that encourages excellent care.
	The draft NHS Constitution and the Government's proposals are open for public consultation until 17 October 2008. The details, including how to feed in views, may be found at www.dh.gov.uk/consultations.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways he plans to accelerate the rate at which existing NHS trusts achieve NHS Foundation Trust status, as referred to on page 61 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; and whether it is his policy that all hospital trusts should be able to apply for NHS Foundation Trust status by the end of 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government want all acute and mental health trusts to attain the national health service foundation trust (NHSFT) standard at the earliest opportunity.
	Good progress is being made. There are already 103 NHSFTs which account for over 45 per cent. of all eligible acute and mental health trusts. By the end of this financial year, we expect over half of all these trusts to become NHSFTs. Strategic health authorities are charged with delivering NHSFTs. Increasing the flow of strong applicants to Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts) is a priority and we are considering options for accelerating the rate of NHSFT authorisations.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers strategic health authority medical directors, as referred to in paragraph 29 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, will have to direct service planning in NHS foundation trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The appointment of strategic health authority (SHA) medical directors does not alter the existing relationship between SHAs and national health service foundation trusts (NHS FTs). SHAs have no powers of direction over NHS FTs. SHA medical directors will provide medical leadership and oversee on-going work by the SHAs to implement their local clinical visions.

NHS Leadership Board

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will establish the NHS Leadership Board, as referred to on page 67 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; how many members the NHS Leadership Board will have; if he will place a copy of the terms of reference of the NHS Leadership Council in the Library; what powers the NHS Leadership Council will have; whether the NHS Leadership Council will have a role in determining the NHS Operating Framework; what the cost of the NHS Leadership Council will be in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We are in the early stages of developing this work. Further information will be available in due course.

NHS Pensions Agency: Resource Accounting and Budgeting

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the 2007-08 resource accounts for the NHS Pension Scheme.

Ann Keen: We expect the NHS pension scheme resource accounts for the 2007-08 financial year to be published after Parliament returns from the summer recess.

NHS Treatment Centres

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have used NHS walk-in centres in each region.

Ben Bradshaw: Figures for attendances at NHS walk-in centres for the latest year for each strategic health authority are as follows:
	
		
			  2007-08 
			  SHA  Number of attendances at NHS walk-in centres 
			 East Midland 121,365 
			 East of England 134,903 
			 London 741,517 
			 North East 135,994 
			 North West 698,018 
			 South Central 180,281 
			 South East Coast 205,852 
			 South West 154,714 
			 West Midlands 171,931 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 132,626 
			  Source: Department of Health QMAE dataset

NHS Trust Boards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost will be of developing a new development programme for NHS Trust boards, as referred to in paragraph 39, page 67 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, 2008.

Ann Keen: We are in early stages of developing this work. Further information will be available in due course.

NHS: Advisory Bodies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to have established new professional advisory bodies, as referred to on page 73 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; how many such bodies he plans to establish in total; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) function of each such body will be; what the cost of (i) establishing and (ii) running each body will be; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Next Stage Review has recommended that three advisory functions are set up:
	Medical Education England;
	regional advisory boards; and
	advisory boards for other professions.
	Medical Education England will have the following core functions for doctors, dentists, health care scientists, pharmacists and low volume specialities:
	bringing a coherent professional voice on matters relating to education and training and advising the Department on policy;
	providing high level scrutiny of and advice on the quality of workforce planning at a national level;
	providing professional scrutiny of and advice on the education and training commissioning plans developed at strategic health authority (SHA) level;
	coordination of changes to postgraduate training pathways at a national level;
	integration of service and professional perspectives into curricula development; and
	liaison with other relevant bodies.
	The main functions of the SHA advisory bodies are:
	bringing a coherent professional perspective to advise the SHAs on education and training needs so that the workforce model that service providers need can be developed e.g. community based cardiology services;
	engaging with higher education institutions to translate workforce models, based on clinical needs into training and education;
	providing a professional high level overview and assurance of quality of the workforce plans created at SHA level; and
	bringing a multi professional perspective and regional perspective in advising the national advisory boards on workforce plans.
	The advisory boards for other professions have yet to be agreed. The Department will be working with professional bodies and other key stakeholders over the coming months to establish exactly which professional bodies should be set up. Consequently no timescale or specific costings have been prepared yet for this function.
	We will also be working with SHAs to support the development of regional advisory groups. This will be funded from within existing budgets.
	It is planned that Medical Education England will be in place by January 2009.

NHS: Apprentices

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many apprenticeships there are in the NHS; what the baseline year is for measuring adherence to the commitment contained in High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, to double apprenticeships over the next four years; how much is being spent on apprenticeships in 2008-09; whether future spending will be ring-fenced; whether he expects that the doubling of expenditure on apprenticeships will lead to a doubling in the number of apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of apprenticeships in the NHS is not available centrally. We are currently working with key partners to design apprenticeship policy that meets the needs of NHS staff, employers and above all, our patients. Decisions on ring-fencing and aspirations on numbers of apprentices will be considered as part of ongoing work.

NHS: Buildings

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds his Department has received from the sale of former NHS buildings in  (a) England and  (b) Leeds in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In the last 10 years, the total receipts from the sale of former national health service land and buildings by the Department were 2,047 million. Records indicate that, of that sum, 66 million was received from the sale of surplus NHS property in Leeds. These figures do not include sales made by NHS bodies themselves.
	The receipts from the Department's sale of land and buildings are centrally reinvested as a part of the capital funding provided to the NHS.

NHS: Buildings

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of the NHS estate in England was not  (a) fire safety and  (b) health and safety compliant in each of the last five years; what the estimated cost of the works required to achieve such compliance was at year-end in each case; what the cost of the total general repair backlog on the NHS estate in England was in March (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006; and what the outstanding cost of related repairs is estimated to be as of the end of 2008-09;
	(2)  what the repair backlog was of the NHS estate, broken down by  (a) high,  (b) significant,  (c) moderate and  (d) low risk in each of the last five financial years; and what the overall risk adjusted backlog was;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of outstanding maintenance in the NHS in each year from 1997-98 to 2007-08  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by NHS organisation;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the cost of reaching  (a) estate code condition B,  (b) fire safety standards and  (c) health and safety standards for all mental health trusts in England, broken down by trust;
	(5)  what targets he has set in relation to reducing disrepair on the NHS estate.

Ben Bradshaw: Recent record levels of capital investment in the national health service estate have resulted in a quarter of the estate occupied by NHS trusts being replaced since 1997 and the proportion of the estate that predates the establishment of the NHS itself has fallen from 50 per cent. in 1997-98 to 20 per cent. in 2006-07.
	NHS organisations are responsible for the provision and maintenance of facilities to support the delivery of high quality clinical services. Therefore the NHS will locally prioritise investment to reduce backlog maintenance based on risk assessment, reconfiguration planning and available resources. The majority of backlog maintenance relates to low priority work, which trusts will undertake through maintenance programmes. Where higher risks are present, work will be undertaken as a priority. While levels of backlog maintenance vary across the NHS, it is estimated that around 75 per cent. of the total costs to eradicate backlog maintenance is concentrated in 20 per cent. of organisations.
	The backlog maintenance categorised according to its risk level is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Backlog maintenance 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Risk level/definition   million  Percentage   million  Percentage   million  Percentage 
			  High risk   
			 Urgent priority work needed to prevent catastrophic failure, major disruption to clinical services or deficiencies resulting in serious injury or prosecution 358.2 11.4 329.9 9.0 308.1 8.2 
			
			  Significant risk   
			 Requires short-term expenditure but can be effectively managed to avoid risk to healthcare services or concern to enforcement bodies 778.2 24.8 982.2 26.6 943.5 25.2 
			  Moderate risk   
			 Requires close control and monitoring but can be managed in the medium term 902.1 28.7 1,219.4 33.1 1,231.5 32.9 
			
			  Low risk   
			 Can be addressed through agreed maintenance programmes or through strategic plans 1,103.2 35.1 1,152.1 31.3 1,256.6 33.6 
			
			 Total 3,141.7 100 3,683.6 100 3,739.7 100 
			
			 Risk Adjusted Backlog Maintenance 1,342  1,744  1,542  
		
	
	The total backlog maintenance for England since 1997-98 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Total backlog maintenance ( million) 
			 1997-98 2,836 
			 1998-99 3,027 
			 1999-2000 3,108 
			 2000-01 3,242 
			 2001-02 3,378 
			 2002-03 3,517 
			 2003-04 3,193 
			 2004-05 3,142 
			 2005-06 3,684 
			 2006-07 3,740 
		
	
	The information for NHS organisations has been placed in the Library. Data relating to 2007-08 are currently being collected.
	Information on the percentage of the total patient occupied floor area in the NHS estate in England that is not fire or health and safety compliant has not been collected centrally since 2003-04. At that time the figures were 7.1 per cent. and 8.8 per cent. respectively. The estimated cost of achieving compliance for physical condition, fire safety and health and safety, which in total represent the investment needed to reach Estatecode condition B, for 2003-04, the last available period, have been placed in the Library. This includes NHS mental health trusts. NHS organisations, including foundation trusts, remain responsible for compliance with fire and health and safety laws and regulations.
	The data provided has not been amended centrally and the accuracy and completeness of this data is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

NHS: Buildings

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have been found to have asbestos in buildings within their responsibility.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. Responsibility for the identification, safe handling and disposal of asbestos found in any national health service property is a matter for local management. The NHS, along with all other industries has been alert to the risks associated with asbestos for many years, and managers are aware of their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

NHS: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of NHS trusts which make use of the CPORT tool to plan for the safe introduction of new drugs.

Ann Keen: Currently around 63 trusts have access to C-PORT and are being trained to use the tool to assess the impact of drugs. Roll out continues across 20 Cancer Networks who are at various stages in learning how to use the tool.

NHS: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which patients who have been denied funding for National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)-approved drugs by their primary care trust (PCT) are aware of the obligations on PCTs to fund NICE-approved drugs; what assessment he has made of the extent to which patients will become more aware of these obligations as a result of the inclusion of this right in the NHS constitution; and what proportion of patients who have been denied funding for NICE-approved drugs he estimates will have access to NICE-approved drugs following the changes proposed in High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432.

Dawn Primarolo: Our overall assessment is that compliance with technology appraisal guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is high and that patients are not routinely denied treatments that have been recommended by NICE.
	Research with patients and the public suggests that, while the perceived postcode lottery for access to drugs is a major concern, many people are unaware of the process for funding drugs and treatments and are not aware that primary care trusts already have a statutory responsibility to fund drugs and treatments that are recommended in NICE's technology appraisal guidance. The Government believe that the NHS Constitution can play an important part in addressing these issues.
	The draft NHS Constitution was published on 30 June 2008 (copies have already been placed in the Library) and the Government's proposals are open for public consultation until 17 October 2008. The Government will consider these issues following the consultation.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department has allocated to central capital budgets in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11;
	(2)  with reference to page 148 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will provide a similar breakdown of the NHS capital settlement for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11;
	(3)  pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 197-8W, on departmental public expenditure, how much his Department spent on each of its programme capital budgets for 2007-08; and what programme capital budgets have been planned for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The amounts allocated against each of the Department's 2007-08 programme capital budgets are shown in the table.
	Other than the amounts (480 million in 2009-10 and 565 million in 2010-11) announced in The Operating Framework. For the NHS in England 2008-09 (copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library) for the local capital investment priorities of primary care trusts, capital budgets for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been set. The Department cannot, therefore, for those years, issue information on central capital budgets, or programme capital budgets, or issue a breakdown in the format of page 148 of Departmental Report 2008.
	
		
			  000 
			   2007-08  
			   Budget  Allocations issued  Funds unallocated at the year-end 
			 Community Hospitals Programme 75,000 33,591 41,409 
			 Learning DisabilityGrants to permit transfer of service users from NHS facilities to tenanted facilities in community 50,000 4,969 45,031 
			 Healthy living centres for offenders 932 0 932 
			 Iris recognition and desk-top analysis to support opium substitution in prisons 4,300 4,295 5 
			 Dental Premises improvement grants 60,000 59,998 2 
			 Choose and Book Capital Incentives 42,825 8,100 34,725 
			 Drugs Misuse Treatment Strategy 64,895 24,067 40,828 
			 Capital resource cover for Wave 1 Independent Sector procurements 48,121 45,978 2,143 
			 Pulmonary Rehab Equipment 1,000 0 1,000 
			 Operational CapitalAdjustments to allocations 3,196 2,519 677 
			 Social Enterprises 2,421 2,421 0 
			 Research and Development Funding agreed and announced 45,000 45,000 0 
			 Screeninga retinopathy screening database pilot 200 200 0 
			 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services 38,000 37,941 59 
			 Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and 'places of safety' 88,174 51,906 36,268 
			 High Security Services 60,000 14,511 45,489 
			 Broadmoor re-development 5,000 0 5,000 
			 Coronary Heart DiseaseCompleting Heart Centres 49,731 43,347 6,384 
			 Radiotherapy training 5,000 4,734 266 
			 Genetics 3,617 0 3,617 
			 WorkforceMedical school expansion 9,000 8,007 993 
			 WorkforceDental school expansion 20,000 20,976 -976 
			 Emergency vehicles and equipment 9,000 678 8,322 
			 WorkforceRadiological academies 3,300 1,760 1,540 
			 Occupational Health Outreach Sites 10,000 9,600 400 
			 Great Ormond Street 'Phase 2' 30,000 30,000 0 
			 Funds for enabling works for major Private Finance Initiative schemes 144,579 91,199 53,380 
			 Pilot project to evaluate nursing implications of 100 per cent. single rooms 800 800 0 
			 Funds to support improved energy efficiency in national health service buildings 60,000 19,622 40,378 
			 Local Implementation of Connecting for Health 97,174 93,714 3,460 
			 Decontamination 50,800 20,669 30,131 
			 NHS Direct 8,200 8,200 0 
			 End of Life Care 600 0 600 
			 Hazardous Area Response Team Equipment 2,200 0 2,200 
			 Total 1,093,065 688,802 404,263

NHS: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to issue primary care trust allocations for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The 2009-10 and 2010-11 primary care trust revenue allocations will be announced in the autumn alongside the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10.

NHS: Finance

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NHS budget will be in 2009-10.

Ben Bradshaw: The total NHS plan expenditure for 2009-10 is 102,642 million. This is as set out in the NHS Departmental Report 2008 (Figure Al).

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the full breakdown of each primary care trust's expenditure by programme budget category for 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Estimates of primary care trust (PCT) expenditure by programme budgeting category are not scheduled to be collected from PCTs until December 2008 and therefore are not currently available.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS  (a) capital and  (b) resource expenditure in (i) cash and (ii) real terms at current prices (A) on end-of-life care was in (1) 2004-05, (2) 2005-06, (3) 2006-07 and (4) 2007-08 and (B) is planned to be in (x) 2008-09 and (y) 2010-11.

Ivan Lewis: We do not collect information on national health service expenditure on end of life care services centrally.
	To support the development of the End of Life Care Strategy, a survey was undertaken on primary care trust expenditure on specialist palliative care services. The results of this survey were published on the Department's website on 16 July.
	The End of Life Care Strategy published on 16 July sets out a clear direction for delivering and ensuring access to high quality, responsive services across all settings for all adult patients at the end of life irrespective of who or where they are. As set out in the strategy, we will be investing an additional 286 million in end of life services in the two years up to 2011.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether moving away from block grant funding, as referred to in paragraph 24, page 64 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, will entail the creation of a payment-by-results system for community services; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: To ensure services are commissioned and provided on a high quality, cost-effective basis, the national health service is moving increasingly to a contractual structure where the level of funding is linked to the actual performance of providers.
	To support the commissioning of community services on a more effective basis, we are working with the NHS to develop effective currencies (units of payment) for these services. Only when these currencies are developed, will we be able to evaluate their robustness and suitability to underpin any national tariff for community services. This staged approach is in line with our proposals in the consultation on the Options for the Future of PbR 2008-09 to 2010-11, which has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that the regional innovation funds held by strategic health authorities, as referred to on page 56 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, will be ring-fenced; whether regional innovation funds will vary between each strategic health authority area; whether funding for the innovation fund will be additional funding from his Department's central budget; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The specific purpose of the regional innovation funds are to identify, grow and diffuse tomorrow's best practice. All local applications for awards will be subject to assessment by an independent expert panel to ensure that the funds awarded are deployed for that purpose. The fund monies will be additional funding from the Department's central budget, and will be apportioned equally between each of the 10 strategic health authorities.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that best practice tariffs, as referred to on page 55 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432, should adjust prices  (a) up and  (b) down vis-a-vis the current equivalent tariff.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no predetermined requirement for best practice tariffs to be either higher or lower than current equivalent tariffs.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimate annual cost to the public purse the new  (a) medical directors,  (b) clinical advisory groups and  (c) quality observatories will be in each strategic health authority area.

Ben Bradshaw: Implementing the proposals in the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, is core business for the national health service. The NHS budget for England for 2008-09 is 96 billion and will rise to 110 billion by 2010-11. The proposals will be funded from within that settlement.

NHS: Fires

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fires there were on NHS premises in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The figures in the following table have been obtained from information contained in the database held by the Department. National health service trusts are required to report all outbreaks of fire to which the fire and rescue service attend.
	
		
			   Number of incidents 
			 1996-97 1,038 
			 1997-98 1,136 
			 1998-99 912 
			 1999-2000 1,125 
			 2000-01 1,045 
			 2001-02 948 
			 2002-03 809 
			 2003-04 832 
			 2004-05 1,194 
			 2005-06 1,151 
			 2006-07 1,089 
			 2007-08 775 
		
	
	The figures may not be representative of the actual number of incidents attended by the fire and rescue services as, for example, NHS Foundation Trusts are not mandated to provide information in relation to fire incidents.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 371W, on the NHS: IT, on which dates resets have been applied to the contracts with  (a) Fujitsu,  (b) BT and  (c) CSC; and what the resulting total contract value was following each reset.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is in the table. Where there are increases in the value of the reset contract when compared to the original contract value, this is due to changes or additional requirements that have been negotiated as part of the reset agreement and these have been approved through normal governance arrangements.
	
		
			  Contract  Reset data  10 year contract value ( million) 
			 BT Local Service Provider (LSP) London May 2007 1,082 
			 CSC LSP NE January 2007 1,179 
			 CSC LSP Eastern January 2007 1,064 
			 CSC LSP NW West Midlands January 2007 1,110 
			 Fujitsu LSP Southern September 2005 1,182 
			 BT National Application Service Provider: Spine February 2008 1,000

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) current and  (b) projected delays are in each of the NHS organisations assigned to Fujitsu's cluster under the NHS IT contract.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about planned and actual deployments in the area covered by the Fujitsu contract at the point of termination of the contract are shown in the table that has been placed in the Library.
	It is not yet possible accurately to predict the consequential impact on deployments as a result of the termination of the contract. However, it is possible that some services, such as systems to support mental health and community health services, may in the event be delivered more quickly than was originally anticipated through existing contracts with other suppliers.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum penalty that can be levied on Fujitsu as a result of the termination notice issued under the NHS IT contract is; and what the maximum Government liability is.

Ben Bradshaw: Financial liability for performance under the contract with Fujitsu, terminated on 28 May 2008, will ultimately be determined by agreement between the parties, or failing that by arbitration, or by a court. The contract, which was reset in September 2005, provides for caps of liability. Fujitsu's liability to the Department is capped at 100 million per contract year, and an aggregate total of 500 million. The Department's liability is capped at 50 million per contract year. In both cases, the liabilities have potential to apply from the last contract reset.

NHS: ICT

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the installation cost of the new version of the Connecting for Health system is; and what additional costs NHS trusts have incurred as a result of its installation;
	(2)  whether the original allocation of funding for the  (a) establishment and  (b) running of the Connecting for Health initiative has been exceeded; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is contained in Figure 7 on page 26 of the National Audit Office report The National Programme for IT in the NHS : Progress since 2006, which can be found at:
	www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/07-08/0708484i.pdf.
	The National Audit Office report confirms that the National Programme for IT remains within budget and there has been no change to the original contract costs except where new or additional requirements have been included. Information on expenditure by local NHS trusts on the national programme has not in the past been collected centrally. An annual survey has sought to establish local IT expenditure but the returns, published annually, have included all NHS IT expenditure. It is proposed to collect National Programme-specific information on a sample basis.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008,  Official Report, column 26W, on NHS: ICT, what timetable changes there have been which are not attributable to the transfer of ownership from iSoft to IBA; and to what they are attributable.

Ben Bradshaw: As the National Audit Office has recently reported, although deployment by local service providers has started, the completion of deployment of systems to all hospitals is likely to take some four years longer than originally planned. This delay is regrettable and is related to the scale and complexity of the task. This is because the new systems have taken longer to be developed and because they are being installed into acute hospitals that already have between 20 and 40 existing systems, built to different standards over many years. The new systems need to be made to operate seamlessly and safely with these non-standard existing systems and interfaces, with associated data cleansing and data quality requirements.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 210W, on NHS: ICT, what the delivery timescales are for the Lorenzo solution to the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 475-77W to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon). I understand that the supplier of the Lorenzo software remains confident that Release 1 will be deployed into the early adopters in the summer as planned. The deployment and timetable of subsequent releases will depend to some extent on the experience of the early adopters.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2008,  Official Report, column 476W, on NHS: ICT, where three early adopter sites are; whether release 1 of Lorenzo has been delivered; and whether development plans have been extended in light of the recent National Audit Office Report into NHS IT.

Ben Bradshaw: The early adopter sites comprise University of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, and South Birmingham primary care trust.
	Release 1 of the Lorenzo software was delivered into initial testing for the national health service in England in May 2008 and is currently being tested prior to go-live, at Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.
	Development plans have not been extended in the light of the recent National Audit Office Report into the NHS IT Programme.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 123-4W, on NHS: ICT, how much capital and revenue expenditure was made by  (a) local NHS organisations and  (b) central NHS organisations and Connecting for Health; and what the (i) capital and (ii) revenue expenditure on IT in the NHS was in each year from 1989-90 to 2004-05 expressed as a percentage of NHS expenditure in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: All the information in the earlier answer relates to expenditure by NHS Connecting for Health. In the past, information on expenditure by national health service organisations on the national programme for information technology (NPfTT) has not been collected centrally. An annual survey has sought to establish local IT expenditure but the returns, published annually, have not been restricted to the National Programme for IT. It is proposed to collect the information, on a sample basis.
	Information on total NHS capital and revenue expenditure on information technology is in the following tables. Information was not collected centrally for years prior to 2003-04 (capital) and 2002-03 (revenue).
	
		
			  Capital 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			 NHS Capital ( million) 2,735.008 2,461.254 
			 Local IT capital ( million) 234.296 205.555 
			 Local percentage spend 8.57 8.35 
		
	
	
		
			  Revenue 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 NHS Revenue ( million) 50,813.614 55,036.276 61,867.068 
			 Local IT revenue ( million) 832.020 914.232 1,046.259 
			 Local percentage spend 1.64 2.16 2.44

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts are held by  (a) his Department and  (b) Connecting for Health with suppliers to the National IT programme.

Ben Bradshaw: Contracts under the national programme for information technology, held by NHS Connecting for Health on behalf of the Secretary of State, comprise local service provider (LSP) contracts with BT and CSC; contracts for the 'spine' and the new national broadband (N3) network, also with BT; for choose and book with Atos Origin; with Accenture for Picture Archiving and Communications systems; with Cable and Wireless for NHS Mail; and a contract with Fujitsu to cover transitional arrangements following termination of the company's original LSP contract. In addition, NHS Connecting for Health holds numerous enterprise wide agreements on behalf of the national health service and other contracts that relate to aspects of its work which are not a part of the national programme, and for its day-to-day operational needs, such as accommodation and staff.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals  (a) have and  (b) do not have a national programme for IT patient administration system in place.

Ben Bradshaw: As at 21 July 2008 NHS Connecting for Health had deployed patient administration systems in 138 NHS organisations, which are listed as follows. Information on which of the organisations concerned include a hospital site, and which may have more than one hospital site, is not held centrally.
	 Patient Administration System deployments as at 21 July 2008
	Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
	Trafford PCT
	Blackburn with Darwen PCT
	Salford PCT
	Stockport PCT
	Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT
	Blackpool PCT
	Bolton PCT
	Warrington PCT
	Knowsley PCT
	Oldham PCT
	Bury PCT
	Tameside and Glossop PCT
	Cumbria PCT
	North Lancashire PCT
	Central Lancashire PCT
	East Lancashire PCT
	Sefton PCT
	Wirral PCT
	Liverpool PCT
	Halton and St. Helens PCT
	Western Cheshire PCT
	Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT
	Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT
	Manchester PCT
	Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust
	University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
	Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital
	University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
	North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Pennine Care NHS Trust
	Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust
	Lancashire Care NHS Trust
	Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust
	Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust
	Airedale NHS Trust
	Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust
	Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust
	Barnsley PCT
	Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
	Babington Hospital
	Wilderslowe
	Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust
	Herefordshire PCT
	South Birmingham PCT
	Shropshire County PCT
	Walsall Teaching PCT
	Coventry Teaching PCT
	Telford and Wrekin PCT
	Wolverhampton City PCT
	Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT
	Dudley PCT
	Sandwell PCT
	Birmingham East and North PCT
	North Staffordshire PCT
	Stoke on Trent PCT
	South Staffordshire PCT
	Worcestershire PCT
	Warwickshire PCT
	Hereford Hospitals Trust
	South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust
	University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS
	Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital and NHS Trust
	George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
	Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust
	Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust
	Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
	University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
	Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
	North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
	Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
	East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
	Archer Unit
	Danesbury Hospital
	Gossoms End Elderly Care Unit
	Cambridgeshire PCT
	Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT
	James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS
	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Part
	RWN South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
	King's College Hospital NHS Trust
	Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
	Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
	The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust
	Epsom and Saint Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Bromley PCT
	Greenwich Teaching PCT
	Barnet PCT
	Hillingdon PCT
	Enfield PCT
	Barking and Dagenham PCT
	Hammersmith and Fulham PCT
	Ealing PCT
	Hounslow PCT
	Brent Teaching PCT
	Harrow PCT
	Westminster PCT
	Lambeth PCT
	Southwark PCT
	Lewisham PCT
	Wandsworth PCT
	Richmond and Twickenham PCT
	Sutton and Merton PCT
	Waltham Forest PCT
	Bexley Care Trust
	Newham University Hospital NHS Trust
	Barts and the London NHS Trust
	Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
	Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust
	West London Mental Health NHS Trust
	Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
	South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust
	Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust
	East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust
	North East London Mental Health NHS Trust
	Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust
	Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
	Surrey PCT
	West Sussex PCT
	Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust
	Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust
	Milton Keynes PCT
	Hampshire PCT
	Buckinghamshire PCT
	Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust
	Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust
	Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
	North Somerset PCT
	Somerset PCT
	Weston Area Health NHS Trust
	Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

NHS: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the Care Quality Commission to take account of staff satisfaction indicators in its evaluations of  (a) NHS trusts and  (b) other NHS organisations.

Ben Bradshaw: The Care Quality Commission will take over from the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission, and the Mental Health Act Commission on 1 April 2009.
	The 2008-09 Annual Health Check will include an assessment of national health service organisations against an indicator of NHS staff satisfaction.
	The new Commission will consult on its assessment for 2009-10 in due course. However, this will need to reflect the national priorities including staff satisfaction.
	In addition, from April 2010 the new Commission will move to a common system of registration for all providers of regulated health and adult social care. The Department recently consulted on what the essential requirements of safety and quality of care should be that providers have to meet in order to maintain their registration. The responses are currently being analysed and the Government's response will be published in due course.

NHS: Manpower

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) GPs,  (b) dentists,  (c) nurses,  (d) midwives and  (e) hospital doctors were employed in the NHS in (i) Slough, (ii) Berkshire and (iii) England in (A) 1997, (B) 2002 and (C) 2007.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	 Dental and Eye Care Team contribution to part (b) dentists
	The number of national health service (NHS) dentists, in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 are available in Annex E and Annex G of the 'NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006'. Annex E provides information by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Annex G provides information by constituency.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, is available in the House of Commons Library (deposited paper reference 07/1059) and is available on-line at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.
	The numbers of dentists on open NHS contracts, in England, as at 30 June 2006, 30 September 2006, 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007, are available in Table E1 of Annex 3 of the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07' report. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006 and is not comparable to information collected under the old contractual arrangements. This information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Information by constituency is not available under the new dental contractual arrangements.
	This report, published on 23 August 2007, is available in the House of Commons Library (deposited paper reference 07/1985) and is available on-line at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	Both reports have been published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The methodology for counting and reporting the NHS dental workforce is currently under review. The review, led by analysts at the NHS Information Centre and the statistical directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government, working in liaison with the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority, aims to ensure that following the first year of the new dental contractual arrangements, the figures provide an appropriate measure of the workforce.
	The consultation stage of this review ended on 11 July 2008. The intention is to publish workforce data in the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England, 2007-08' report, due to be published by the NHS Information Centre on 21 August 2008.
	Until then the workforce data provided in the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07' report will remain the latest available.
	
		
			  GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) by selected area in England in 1997, 2002 and 2007 
			  Number (headcount) 
			1997  2002  2007 
			 England  28,046 29,202 33,364 
			  
			 Berkshire(1)  427 487 524 
			  
			 5QG Berkshire East Teaching PCT (1) 208 222 
			 5DM Slough PCT (1) 64 (1) 
			 5G2 Bracknell Forest PCT (1) 53 (1) 
			 5G3 Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead PCT (1) 91 (1) 
			  
			 5QF Berkshire West PCT  279 302 
			  
			 5DK Newbury and Community PCT (1) 59 (1) 
			 5DL Reading PCT (1) 132 (1) 
			 5DN Wokingham PCT (1) 88 (1) 
			 (1 )Not available  Notes: 1. Berkshire consists of Berkshire East Teaching PCT and Berkshire West PCT in 2007 and the following PCTs in 2002: Slough PCT, Bracknell Forest PCT, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead PCT, Newbury and Community PCT, Reading PCT and Wokingham PCT. Prior to this, in 1997, there was Berkshire HA and no lower level breakdown available. 2. GP Data is available by SHA and PCT only, there are no GPs recorded in Acute Trusts or Ambulance Trusts on the GP Census Collection. This, as well as part-mergers of trust boundaries in recent years, can make comparability difficult between GP Data, non-medical staff data and medical and dental workforce data over a time-series at local trust level. 
		
	
	
		
			  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS)( 1, 2) : All qualified nursing. midwifery and health visiting staff, and medical and dental staff( 3, 4)  within specified organisations. As at 30 September each year 
			  Number (headcount) 
			   1997  2002  2007 
			 England 360,697 418,705 468,527 
			 
			 Medical and dental staff 60,230 72,168 91,790 
			 Medical staff 56.663 68,514 87,850 
			 Dental staff 3,567 3,654 3,940 
			 
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 300,467 346,537 376,737 
			  Of which :
			 Midwives 22,385 23,249 25,093 
			 
			 Total of specified organisations 3,156 3,748 4,013 
			 Medical and dental staff 563 633 857 
			 Medical staff 534 591 814 
			 Dental staff 29 42 43 
			 
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 2,593 3,115 3,156 
			  O f which :
			 Midwives 146 264 269 
			 
			 5QG Berkshire East Teaching PCT 565 521 526 
			 Medical and dental staff 53 47 39 
			 Medical Staff 41 20 18 
			 Dental Staff 12 27 21 
			 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 512 474 487 
			 of which
			 Midwives 0 0 0 
			 
			 RD7 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 1,382 1,500 1,989 
			 Medical and dental staff 228 274 380 
			 Medical staff 222 270 372 
			 Dental staff 6 4 8 
			 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,154 1,226 1,609 
			  Of which:
			 Midwives 130 130 153 
			 
			 RTK Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 1,209 1,727 1,498 
			 Medical and dental staff 282 312 438 
			 Medical staff 271 301 424 
			 Dental staff 11 11 14 
			 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 927 1,415 1,060 
			  Of which:
			 Midwives 16 134 116 
			 (1) In 2002 East Berkshire Community NHS Trust was split to form Bracknell Forest PCT and Windsor, Ascot and Maiden PCT. Figures for 1997 are for this predecessor organisation. In 2006 Bracknell Forest PCT, Windsor, Ascot and Maiden PCT and Slough PCT merged to form East Berkshire PCT. Figures for 2002 are for these predecessor organisations. (2 )In 1998 Ashford Hospital NHS Trust and St. Peters NHS Trust merged to form Ashford  St. Peters NHS Trust. Figures for 1997 are for these predecessor organisations. (3 )Excludes medical Hospital Practitioners and medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals. (4 )HCHS Medical and Dental staff includes the following grades: consultant, associate specialist, dental hospital practitioners, dental clinical assistants, staff grade, registrar group, senior house officer, foundation year 2, house officer, foundation year 1 and other staff.  Note: Over the last five years there's been a reduction in the use of bank nursing staff.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical workforce census.  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental workforce census

NHS: Private Sector

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to primary care trusts on contingency plans if private sector service suppliers to the NHS enter financial difficulties.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is introducing new standard contracts for national health service funded care to be used by Primary Care Trusts (PCT) for the services they commission from all types of provider, whether private or public. The contracts require private sector providers to have in place service continuity plans to ensure the continued availability of those services identified by PCTs as essential, in the event of any disruption of the provider's ability to provide them.

NHS: Private Sector

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Guildford of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 763W, on NHS: private sector, what his definition of a complete package of care is;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Guildford of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 763W, on NHS: private sector, what definition of an episode of care is used for the purposes of collecting information in the Hospital Episodes Statistics database.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no formal definition of 'a complete package of care'.
	Generally, the definition of an 'episode of care' is a judgment made locally by clinicians and the local national health service. In terms of collecting information for the Hospital Episode Statistics, the main unit of data collection is referred to as the 'finished consultant episode'. The finished consultant episode is defined as a period of admitted patient care under a consultant or allied health care professional within an NHS trust.

NHS: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to establish the National Quality Board, as referred to on page 54 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; how many members the board will have; whether members of the board will be remunerated; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Quality Board will provide strategic oversight and leadership on quality, and will advise on priorities for clinical standards. The board will play a key role in ensuring that our efforts to improve quality are successful. We will be considering the membership and governance of the board over the summer.

NHS: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce a new measure of patient satisfaction with urgent care services, referred to on page 27 of NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care; whether this measure will be developed in consultation with  (a) service users and  (b) others; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department will introduce an indicator to measure patient reported access to out of hours care by 2009-10. Information will be collected through the new National General Practice Patient Survey.
	The indicator will be developed in consultation with key stakeholders.

NHS: Training

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to have replaced the Medical Professional Education and Training budget with a tariff-based system, as referred to on page 74 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; whether the change to a tariff-based system will entail a change to a ring-fenced workforce training budget; whether the new budget will be held  (a) centrally and  (b) locally; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Work is in progress to develop a robust and equitable allocation methodology for future administration and use of the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget, including developing a tariff based system where funding follows the trainee.
	Decisions on future arrangements for the funding of national health service education and training activity will be made in the light of this work.

NHS: Training

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce the Leadership for Quality Certificate, as referred to on page 66 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; which organisation he expects will design the requirements of the Leadership for Quality Certificate; what the cost to the public purse of developing the Leadership for Quality Certificate will be; and how much it will cost for NHS staff to train for a  (a) level 1,  (b) level 2 and  (c) level 3 of the Leadership for Quality Certificate.

Ann Keen: We are in the early stages of developing this work. Further information will be available in due course.

NHS: Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS bursaries were available in each of the last 11 years; for which courses NHS bursaries were provided; what the total cost was in each year; what the average bursary was; and what the  (a) mean,  (b) median and  (c) range of bursaries was (i) in financial terms and (ii) as a percentage of estimated tuition and living costs.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of students for whom a NHS bursary award was assessed, the number of NHS funded students, the amount of NHS bursary paid, the average amount of NHS bursary paid and the median bursary paid for income assessed bursaries and non income assessed bursaries in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS funded students on pre registration health professional courses 
			  Academic year  Number of students for whom a NHS bursary award assessed( 1)  Number of NHS funded students( 2)  Amount of bursary paid( 3)  ()  Average bursary paid ()  Median bursary paid () 
			  Income assessed awards( 4)  
			 1997-98(5) 7,957 7,888 14,532,040 1,842 1,989 
			 1998-99(5) 11,265 10,600 20,258,727 1,911 1,961 
			 1999-2000 14,300 13,587 28,789,017 2,119 2,100 
			 2000-01 17,314 16,629 38,728,409 2,329 2,225 
			 2001-02 21,439 20,398 51,211,917 2,511 2,408 
			 2002-03 27,176 26,594 67,945,615 2,555 2,426 
			 2003-04 31,044 30,293 79,974,536 2,640 2,555 
			 2004-05 34,083 33,339 94,014,031 2,820 2,641 
			 2005-06 37,197 36,272 113,840,537 3,139 2,845 
			 2006-07 39,657 38,600 126,273,938 3,271 2,935 
			   
			  Non-income assessed awards( 6)  
			 1997-98(5) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 1998-99(5) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 1999-2000 16,267 15,926 65,678,860 4,124 4,741 
			 2000-01 30,896 30,333 143,056,665 4,716 4,860 
			 2001-02 45,478 44,715 240,556,255 5,380 5,448 
			 2002-03 53,103 52,364 279,084,394 5,330 5,487 
			 2003-04 54,999 54,175 293,778,507 5,423 5,617 
			 2004-05 55,669 55,239 318,773,305 5,771 5,750 
			 2005-06 56,001 55,322 334,132,328 6,040 5,892 
			 2006-07 54,748 53,974 334,731,614 6,202 6,038 
			 (1 )The number of students for whom a NHS Bursary award assessed is shown rather than number of applications because: Non income assessed award holders do not need to make an application for any other academic year other than the first academic year for their basic bursary entitlement, if the data showed the number of applications received, the number would be approximately one-third of the number of awards assessed which would inflate the figures when comparing with total amount of NHS bursary paid. If an application is received and returned for more information, NHS Student Bursaries do not hold the data on the number received and returned. If an application is received, and rejected on residency eligibility grounds, NHS Student Bursaries receive the application, but do not assess their entitlement as they are rejected before that assessment is made. If an application is received, but NHS Student Bursaries need more information to determine if they are eligible on residency grounds, they have received that application, but do not assess their entitlement information until the student provides the additional information. (2) Includes students in receipt of a Nil Bursary Award but whose tuition fee contributions are met by the NHS. (3) Includes Basic Award and Allowances and all one-off payments (4) Applicable to students on all health professional courses other than a diploma in higher education (DipHE) Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practitioner. (5) For these years Bursaries were administered by the Higher Education Institutions (6) Applicable to students on DipHE Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practitioner courses.  Notes: 1998-99the first academic year the NHS Bursary Scheme was extended to cover courses leading to professional registration as a dietician, chiropodist, prosthetist and orthotist, speech and language therapist. 1998-99the first academic year BSA Student Bursaries became responsible for the payment of Practice Placement Expenses. 1999-2000the first year the NHS Student Bursaries unit became responsible for the administration of bursaries to new DipHE Nursing and Midwifery students. (Please see footnote 5 to the table explaining that HEI's were responsible for the processing of bursaries for earlier years). 2002-03the first year the NHS Bursary Scheme was extended to cover courses leading to professional registration as a doctor, dentist, audiologist or operating department practitioner. 2005-06the first academic year BSA Student Bursaries holds data on the amount of tuition fee contributions paid in respect of medical and dental students to Higher Education Institutions.  Source: National Health Service Business Services Authority Student Bursaries Unit 
		
	
	Information prior to 1998-99 is not available.
	The range of basic bursary rates for new degree level students (based on courses of 30 weeks) and for new diploma level students, in 2006-07 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   
			   Basic bursary rate 2006-07 
			  If students are studying:  Degree (income assessed)  Diploma (non income assessed) 
			 In London and living in student accommodation or their own home 0-2,908 7,030 
			 Elsewhere in the UK and living in student accommodation in their own home 0-2,367 5,983 
			 Anywhere in the UK (including London) and living with their parents 0-1,936 5,983 
			  Source:  Financial Help for New Healthcare Students 2006-07 
		
	
	The courses for which NHS bursaries are provided is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Course type  Bursary category 
			 NursingDipHE Level (all branches) Non-income Assessed 
			 NursingAccelerated and Post-Graduate Diploma Non-income Assessed 
			 Operating Department Practitioner Non-income Assessed 
			 Audiology Income Assessed 
			 Chiropody/Podiatry Income Assessed 
			 Dental Hygiene (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 Dental Therapy (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 MidwiferyBSc Level Income Assessed 
			 NursingBN/BA/BSc Level Income Assessed 
			 Occupational Therapy (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 Orthoptics Income Assessed 
			 Physiotherapy (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 Prosthetics and Orthotics Income Assessed 
			 Radiography and Radiotherapy (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 Speech and Language Therapy (including postgraduate diploma level) Income Assessed 
			 Medicineundergraduate (in fifth and subsequent years) and graduate entry (in years two to four) Income Assessed 
			 Dentistryundergraduate (in fifth and subsequent years) Income Assessed 
			  Source: National Health Service Business Services Authority Student Bursaries Unit 
		
	
	The purpose of the NHS Bursary award is to support students with their day-to-day living costs. Those students who are eligible for NHS bursaries do not normally need to fund their own tuition fees as these are paid by the NHS through the Multi Professional Education and Training budget.

Nurses

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the baseline year is for the threefold increase in nurse and midwife preceptorships, as referred to on page 72 of High Quality Care for All, Cm 7432; how much was spent on nurse and midwife preceptorships in that year; in what year he expects to achieve a threefold increase in spending on preceptorships; whether he expects a threefold increase in spending on preceptorships to result in a threefold increase in the number of preceptorships; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: 10 million has been allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs) in 2008-09 to support the development of work based learning and post registration support for nurses, midwives and some other professional staff. This includes preceptorship support for newly qualified staff.
	This funding will be increased to 20 million in 2009-10 and to 30 million in 2010-11.
	It is too early to identify actual spend on preceptorship support by the local national health service in the 2008-09 financial year, or the actual number of preceptorships offered.

Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS organisations on obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 to provide appropriate nutritional care.

Ivan Lewis: In March 2007 the Department of Health published Human Rights in HealthcareA Framework for Local Action which raised awareness of human rights in general including the Human Rights Act 1998 and also addressed how national health service trusts could use a human rights based approach to improve service design and delivery, including the right to food.
	Individual nutritional care is addressed at a local level, with each NHS trust setting its own policies of nutritional care in hospitals and out reach care. I launched the Nutrition Action Plan in October 2007, setting out a range of resources, guidance and best practice on how to improve nutrition delivered in health and social care settings. A Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board has been established to steer implementation of the document, which is chaired by Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern.

Obesity

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: In the six months since the 372 million Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a Cross Government Strategy for England was published there has been substantial progress. The forthcoming progress newsletter Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: six months on, has been placed in the Library.
	The newsletter highlights the steps forward for the next six months across all five themes of the Strategy: children, healthy growth and weight; promoting healthier food choices; building physical activity into our lives; creating incentives for better health; and personalised advice and support for all.

Palliative Care

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has set for the assessment of the  (a) implementation,  (b) achievement against objectives and  (c) effect on end of life care of his Department's end of life care strategy.

Ivan Lewis: The number of deaths which occur in the home is one of the national indicators which have been agreed with the Department for Communities and Local Government. Local areas are required to report progress against these indicators. Supporting care provision in the community, and enabling more people to die at home, is a central component of the End of Life Care Strategy.
	The Government are committed to delivering increased investment in end of life care services.
	National quality standards are also being developed against which primary care trusts and providers can assess themselves and be assessed by regulators.
	The Department will also undertake piloting work to develop a national survey of bereaved relatives, which will provide important information on the quality of care provision.

Palliative Care

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of implementation of the end of life care strategy; and how it will be funded from the NHS and from  (a) the voluntary and  (b) the independent sectors.

Ivan Lewis: The impact assessment for the End of Life Care Strategy sets out the estimated costs associated with the implementation of the strategy.
	The Government have made 286 million of funding available in the two years to 2011 to cover the costs of implementation. The majority of this funding will be made available to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, who are responsible for commissioning services and education and training from local providers, including the independent and voluntary sector. The additional resources also include a capital fund of 40 million, to be made available in 2010-11, for the voluntary hospice sector.

Palliative Care

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding mechanisms his Department has examined for the facilitation of the flow of funds from the commissioners to the providers of end of life care services.

Ivan Lewis: Several local health economies are currently investigating Payment by Results (PbR)-type funding approaches for specialist palliative care and community services, as PbR development sites. However, we currently have no timetable for including end of life care in PbR.
	The End of Life Care Strategy sets out the importance of strong commissioning of services by both primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities (LAs). This will be informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment that all PCTs and LAs are required to produce from April 2008.
	The strategy also reminds PCTs and LAs of the need to comply with the Compact on Relations between Government and the voluntary and community sector in England, which should provide a fair playing field for all service.

Palliative Care

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that health and social care staff receive training in end of life care to enable them to deliver the objectives of the end of life care strategy.

Ivan Lewis: To underpin and support training for health and social care staff, the Department has commissioned Skills for Health and Skills for Care to develop end of life care competence frameworks. e-Learning for Healthcare are also being commissioned to develop end of life care e-learning modules that will provide free access to registered users across both health and social care.

Palliative Care

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of training health and social care staff in end of life care to enable them to deliver the objectives of the end of life care strategy.

Ivan Lewis: The Impact Assessment for the End of Life Care Strategy sets out the estimated costs, and the rationale behind them, associated with training the health and social care work force to support the delivery of the strategy.

Patient Choice Schemes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 204W, on patient choice schemes, which hospitals were affected by the system error; which specialisms the affected bookings were for; and how many cases were adversely affected.

Ben Bradshaw: The systems error is known to have affected 272 bookings, between 11 April 2008 and 24 April 2008, out of some 180,000 bookings made during that period. To our knowledge, no patients had their treatment delayed as a result.
	A list of the service providers which were affected by the system error, along with names of the services to which patients had been referred, has been placed in the Library.

Patient Choice Schemes

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts commission the patient choice service; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Free Choice was introduced on 1 April. The introduction of Free Choice has removed the requirement for primary care trusts to carry out local commissioning of elective care hospital-based services. Patients can choose to be referred to any clinically appropriate provider that meets national health service eligibility criteria. This will include NHS foundation trusts, NHS acute trusts and a large number of independent sector providers and their hospitals.

Patient Choice Schemes

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS foundation trusts put their services on the national menu under the patient choice scheme; which primary care trusts commission this scheme; and how his Department plans to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: All new foundation trusts and existing foundation trusts whose contracts expired by 31 March adopted the standard national health service contract for acute services. The standard contract requires all signatories set out relevant services in Choose and Book through a Directory of Service. Foundation trusts whose contracts extended beyond this date were able to choose to adopt the standard contract or to retain their existing contracts until the required period of notice to change had expired. These foundation trusts are not legally obliged to set out their services on Choose and Book and to accept patients under free choice though, under payment by results, this would mean a possible loss of potential income. At the current time, all foundation trusts have published a Directory of Service on Choose and Book.
	The introduction of Free Choice has removed the requirement for primary care trusts to carry out local commissioning of elective care hospital-based services. The Department monitors free choice services available through the Choose and Book system and also monitors the offer of choice through the bimonthly National Patient choice survey.

Patient Choice Schemes

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend the patient choice scheme to infertility services.

Dawn Primarolo: Since January 2006 most patients have had choice of where they are seen when they are first referred by their general practitioner for an out-patient appointment. This includes couples who are being referred to a specialist, either for tests to determine the cause of infertility or where the cause is known.

Patients: Safety

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient safety incidents of each type in each strategic health authority area have been reported to the National Reporting and Learning System since it was established.

Ann Keen: The following tables show patient safety incidents of each type in each strategic health authority (SHA) area that have been reported to the National Reporting and Learning System since it was established in 2003.
	
		
			  Incidents reported to the NRLS (1 Nov 2003 - 30Jun 2008) by SHA, broken down by incident type 
			  Incident Category  N/A  North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 Access, admission, transfer, discharge (including missing patient)  12,023 29,916 24,272 16,506 11,408 
			 Clinical assessment (including diagnosis, scans, tests, assessments)  4,995 19,250 12,532 8,731 5,648 
			 Consent, communication, confidentiality  3,577 17,954 9,310 8,087 6,048 
			 Disruptive, aggressive behaviour  11,237 15,085 17,202 11,393 6,784 
			 Documentation (including records, identification)  5,056 18,159 15,270 10,023 12,562 
			 Infection Control Incident  2,364 5,289 2,943 3,566 3,080 
			 Implementation of care and ongoing monitoring / review  3,291 7,993 6,044 5,100 4,179 
			 Infrastructure (including staffing, facilities, environment)  3,496 21,887 18,267 10,080 7,570 
			 Medical device/equipment (1) 2,910 12,600 8,348 6,178 5,860 
			 Medication  9,804 29,306 26,172 16,325 13,683 
			 Patient abuse (by staff/third party)  1,477 2,536 1,259 1,783 1,924 
			 Patient accident  55,132 135,863 119,306 64,714 65,329 
			 Self-harming behaviour  7,242 13,245 9,952 9,795 6,350 
			 Treatment, procedure  9,930 33,162 23,783 14,191 15,954 
			 Not stated  18 75 45 33 32 
			 Other  5,594 10,376 7,329 4,360 5,739 
			 Total 1 138,146 372,696 302,034 190,865 172,150 
		
	
	
		
			  Incident Category  East of England  London  South East Coast  South Central  South West  Total 
			 Access, admission, transfer, discharge (including missing patient) 17,746 30,465 11,682 13,190 15,631 182,839 
			 Clinical assessment (including diagnosis, scans, tests, assessments) 9,200 27,631 5,435 5,405 13,087 111,914 
			 Consent, communication, confidentiality 7,013 15,671 6,760 5,845 11,344 91,611 
			 Disruptive, aggressive behaviour 10,507 18,066 7,268 3,811 5,872 107,225 
			 Documentation (including records, identification) 12,378 24,233 7,227 5,518 12,161 122,587 
			 Infection Control Incident 3,169 6,070 1,857 2,458 3,533 34,329 
			 Implementation of care and ongoing monitoring / review 8,652 9,623 3,666 3,138 8,148 59,834 
			 Infrastructure (including staffing, facilities, environment) 18,746 25,355 12,034 11,349 23,187 151,971 
			 Medical device/equipment 6,554 16,755 4,971 4,948 8,481 77,606 
			 Medication 23,240 37,161 12,574 13,884 20,883 203,032 
			 Patient abuse (by staff/third party) 2,244 2,259 493 983 845 15,803 
			 Patient accident 92,257 105,427 59,534 57,727 97,146 852,435 
			 Self-harming behaviour 6,366 11,844 3,589 3,378 4,551 76,312 
			 Treatment, procedure 24,329 38,758 16,295 16,451 25,432 218,285 
			 Not stated 42 123 37 22 57 484 
			 Other 9,447 12,903 3,578 2,713 5,277 67,316 
			 Total 251,890 382,344 157,000 150,822 255,635 2,373,583 
			 (1) Incident could not be assigned to a SHA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Incidents reported to the NRLS (1 November 2003 to 30 June 2008) by SHA 
			  Reporting SHA  Number of incidents reported  Percentage 
			 North West 372,696 16 
			 London 382,344 16 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 302,034 13 
			 East of England 251,890 11 
			 South West 255,635 11 
			 East Midlands 190,865 8 
			 West Midlands 172,150 7 
			 South East Coast 157,000 7 
			 North East 138,146 6 
			 South Central 150,822 6 
			 Could not be assigned to a SHA 1 0 
			 Total 2,373,583 100 
			  Notes: 1. These incidents exclude duplicated incidents and incidents where the submitting organisation/individual did not consent to provide their details. Incidents where the data provided did not meet our minimum requirements were excluded from these results. Incidents from Welsh organisations, community pharmacies and NHS Direct were also not included. 2. As reporting to the NRLS is done on a voluntary basis, the figures provided should not be used as an indicator of national trends. 3. NRLS Reports Disclaimer Statement: NPSA Staff The incidents summarised in this report have been drawn from the NPSA National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). The NRLS supports the goal of the NPSA to make patient care safer. The NRLS is a confidential reporting system. The incidents are reported through a variety of routes, by individual NHS staff, including through local trust risk management systems and web based e-forms (including an open access e-form). The individual reports are not investigated or verified by the NPSA. Since these incidents are self-reported they are not necessarily representative of the NHS across England and Wales and therefore need interpreting with care. 4. Permission must be obtained from the NPSA before the information contained within the report it is published or passed on to a third party outside the NPSA. For help with interpretation please contact the statistics team on statisticsteam@npsa.nhs.uk.

Pharmacy: Rural Areas

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that people in rural areas who use GP practices for prescription dispensation will remain able to do so.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are committed providing the right services at the right time in the right place to meet patients' needs.
	The White Paper Pharmacy in England; Building on StrengthsDelivering the Future (copies have already been placed in the Library) looks at aligning the future provision of pharmaceutical services and sets out proposals to look at the market entry criteria for doctors and pharmacists, but no decision has yet been taken on the criteria to be used in future for patients to receive pharmaceutical services from their general practitioner.
	A consultation paper will be launched next month that will look at the options for the future and will provide everyone with an opportunity to contribute, healthcare professional and patient alike. I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement I made on 17 July 2008,  Official Report, column 49WS.
	Following that consultation, we will consider fully the impact of any proposals on patients, the national health service and contractors.

Plastic Surgery

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his response to the report of the Expert Group on the Regulation of Cosmetic Surgery, what steps he has taken in response to each agreed recommendation.

Ben Bradshaw: The information has been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts: Statistics

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information each primary care trust is required to provide to his Department each  (a) month and  (b) year.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to provide the following data to the Department as approved, ongoing PCTs collections:
	 Biennially
	Earnings survey; and
	National capabilities survey.
	 Annually
	Attribution data set;
	Adult and older adult mental health finance mapping;
	Adult Screening Programme: breast cancer (primary care trust (PCT) return);
	Adult Screening Programme: breast screening (Screening Unit return);
	Adult Screening Programme: cervical screening;
	Adults and older adult mental health service mapping;
	Annual health and community health services non-medical workforce census;
	Annual medical and dental workforce census;
	Annual national health service vacancy collection;
	Annual statement of fire safety;
	Audited PCT accounts summarisation schedules;
	Average cleared balances;
	Beds;
	Childhood Immunisation Programme;
	Collection of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine uptake in the 65 and
	over population;
	Consultants clinical excellence awards (consultant verification exercise);
	Diagnostic departments: radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics;
	Emergency continuity business preparedness;
	Estate return information collection;
	Family health services complaints;
	Workforce statistics: annual return of practitioners and premises;
	Health and community services complaints;
	Informal patients and patients detained under the Mental Health Act;
	National survey of patient experience;
	NHS information governance assessment;
	NHS intellectual property data;
	NHS pharmaceutical services;
	Partnership intentions between health services and local authorities;
	PCT financial returns;
	Prison health performance indicators;
	Programme budgeting: NHS trust apportionment reports;
	Public health workforce collection;
	Reference costs collection;
	Seasonal flu vaccine uptake;
	Summary of contraceptive services; and
	Workforce collection: workforce turnover, bank staff, sickness/absence, recruitment.
	 Biannually
	End Waiting, Change Lives communication evaluation (opinion survey);
	General ophthalmic services: sight tests, vouchers and repairs;
	Junior doctor's hours;
	NHS Campus Closure Programme;
	NHS staff engagement and attitudes towards the NHS; and
	Primary care audience tracking research.
	 Quarterly
	Childhood immunisation data;
	Integrated drug treatment system for prisons clinical activity;
	Monitoring revisions to new GP contract;
	National child measurement programme;
	NHS stop smoking services;
	Pharmaceutical, dental and ophthalmic services;
	Prevalence of breastfeeding at six-eight weeks;
	Primary care access survey;
	Prison health care performance monitoring: star ratings;
	Quarterly monitoring of accident and emergency; and
	Quarterly activity return.
	 Monthly
	18 weeks referral to treatment (RTT) times;
	Financial monitoring and accounts;
	Collection of influenza vaccine update data: immunisation of poultry workers;
	Collection of practice level GP referral data;
	Human papillomavirus vaccine immunisation programme: vaccine monitoring
	minimum dataset;
	Information on dental contracts;
	Monitoring extended GP practice opening hours;
	Monthly activity flow;
	Monthly smoking cessation return;
	Monthly waiting times return;
	Monthly waiting times return;
	National direct access to audiology services; and
	National Programme for IT: monthly deployment report.
	 Weekly
	18 weeks RTT primary target list;
	Chlamydia core dataset for national programme monitoring; and
	Sitreps data (weekly and daily).
	 Ad-hoc
	Fire incidents and unwanted fire signal data;
	Health authority refunds;
	Non-medical device defects and failures reporting system; and
	Safety alert broadcast system.
	 Commissioning dataset information provided by PCTs to the secondary uses service (SUS)
	Admitted patient care;
	Outpatients;
	Future outpatients;
	Accident and emergency (including minor injury units and walk in centres);
	Elective admissions lists; and
	Mental health minimum datasets.
	 Notes:
	1. Ad-hoc collections are reported as and when incidents occur.
	2. Not all information areas provided for SUS will apply to all PCTs.
	3. For 2008-09 PCTs have submitted their financial plans, and will be required to submit information on their financial position and forecast at the end of each quarter, with the fourth quarter being the submission of unaudited accounts. This is part of the Department's in-year financial monitoring of all NHS organisations that also includes NHS trusts and strategic health authorities. At the end of each financial year, PCTs have a statutory requirement to submit their audited final accounts.

Psychiatry

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources the Government provided to support  (a) cognitive behavioural and  (b) other talking therapies in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government are investing funding, rising to 173 million by 2011, for the provision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence evidence-based psychological therapies. This includes investment in cognitive behavioural therapy as well as other interventions.

Queen's Hospital Romford: Accident and Emergency Departments

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the performance of the Queen's Hospital, Romford was in processing accident and emergency admissions within four hours in each month since January 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested. Information on the percentage of patients attending accident and emergency (AE) departments who were seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours of their arrival is collected at national health service trust level and published quarterly. This can be compared against the operational standard for AE waits, which is set at 98 per cent. of patients seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours. The following table shows the available information for Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages services at Queen's hospital, Romford.
	I understand that the trust has recently achieved and is looking to sustain the required 98 per cent. standard.
	
		
			  Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in AE departments, minor injury units and walk-in centres from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge at Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust, including activity at partner primary care trusts 
			   Quarter  Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in AE 
			 2006-07 Q4 96.7 
			 2007-08 Q1 95.6 
			 2007-08 Q2 96.4 
			 2007-08 Q3 90.8 
			 2007-08 Q4 84.7 
			  Notes: 1. The Department collects AE data at trust rather than hospital level. The table shows the data for the relevant trust. The Queen's hospital, Romford is provided by Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust. 2. From Q1 2007-08, the data includes services provided by the independent sector.  Source: Department of Health dataset QMAE.

Radiography: Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which universities have offered NHS-funded radiography degree courses in each of the last five years; how many places each had; how many places were filled; what the ratio of places to applications was at each university; how many students at each institution failed to complete the course; what reduced rate student loan was available and how many students took it; how many students studied radiography to degree level without taking the NHS funded place; and what the terms and conditions of the NHS-funded place are.

Ann Keen: A list of universities that have offered NHS-funded radiography degree courses in each of the last five years and the number of students placed at each institution and numbers who failed to complete the course are shown in the table. Information on the number of places each university had available: the ratio of places to applications and the number of students who studied radiography to degree level without taking the NHS funded place is not held centrally.
	The amount of reduced rate loan available in each of the last five years is shown in the table. Information on the number of students, who received it, is not available.
	The eighth edition of the NHS Bursary Scheme outlines the terms and conditions of support arrangements for students in academic years starting on or after 1 September 2007 and before 1 September 2008. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Radiography Student Numbers and Attrition Survey 2007 
			 Diagnostic radiography   
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			   Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete 
			  East of England SHA   
			 Anglia Ruskin n/a n/a n/a n/a 16 5 8 5 5 0 
			 University of Hertfordshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 89 23 79 7 82 1 
			 University of Suffolk n/a n/a 15 7 18 7 19 6 15 1 
			 Suffolk College n/a n/a 54 9 52 20 51 9 52 3 
			
			  East Midlands SHA   
			 Derby University 41 9 42 8 41 4 70 8 15 0 
			
			  London SHA   
			 Kingston and St. Georges 52 15 52 14 59 10 61 0 59 4 
			 Southbank University 48 20 56 24 56 2 57 7 55 9 
			 City University 52 22 61 17 50 5 66 12 57 2 
			
			  North East SHA   
			 Teeside University 31 5 39 7 39 7 40 7 39 0 
			
			  North West SHA   
			 St. Martins College 56 9 60 13 67 9 67 16 65 6 
			 Salford University 46 7 53 8 54 14 51 12 51 4 
			 Liverpool University 32 8 39 5 42 12 46 7 44 7 
			
			  South Central SHA   
			 University of Hertfordshire n/a n/a 44 11 49 18 45 1 44 2 
			 University of Portsmouth n/a n/a 37 0 58 9 59 9 55 1 
			
			  South East Coast SHA   
			 University of Canterbury 47 6 54 15 39 12 53 22 61 4 
			  South West   
			 University of West of England 15 6 24 6 26 2 25 4 n/a n/a 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 University of Central England n/a n/a n/a n/a 102 20 94 12 121 6 
			
			  Yorkshire and Humberside   
			 Sheffield Hallam 37 13 35 8 40 6 34 3 33 4 
			 Leeds University 42 6 52 4 52 7 81 15 46 3 
			 Bradford University 33 7 36 6 39 10 40 2 46 4 
		
	
	
		
			 Therapeutic radiography   
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			   Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete  Students placed  Students failing to complete 
			  East of England SHA   
			 University of Hertfordshire n/a n/a 17 17 21 9 16 5 18 1 
			
			  London SHA   
			 Kingston and St. Georges 14 4 20 9 16 6 24 4 19 5 
			 Southbank University 8 5 13 2 12 6 13 3 17 4 
			 City University 28 12 25 14 26 9 31 13 24 0 
			
			  North West SHA   
			 Liverpool University 27 6 46 16 36 10 36 5 44 3 
			
			  South Central SHA   
			 University of Hertfordshire n/a n/a 16 7 14 8 13 3 13 1 
			 University of Portsmouth n/a n/a 11 6 16 8 15 4 12 0 
			
			  South West   
			 University of West of England 49 13 64 18 62 9 57 9 n/a n/a 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 University of Central England n/a n/a n/a n/a 30 9 25 5 23 3 
			
			  Yorkshire and Humberside   
			 Sheffield Hallam 66 23 60 21 54 18 64 3 51 5 
			  Notes: 1. 2002, 2003 and 2004 are completed cohorts and percentage attrition rates are final. 2. 2005 cohort has had two years of attrition with cohort completing in 2008. 3. 2006 cohort has had one year of attrition with cohort completing in 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			   
			  Reduced rate loans  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Full-year rates  
			 Residence during period of study  
			 Away from parents' home, in London 2,420 2,540 2,540 3,030 3,100 
			 Away from parents' home, elsewhere 1,960 2,055 2,055 2,160 2,210 
			 At parents' home, anywhere in UK 1,500 1,575 1,575 1,620 1,660 
			   
			  Final-year rates  
			 Residence during period of study  
			 Away from parents' home, in London 1,765 1,855 1,855 2,320 2,375 
			 Away from parents' home, elsewhere 1,430 1,500 1,500 1,680 1,720 
			 At parents' home, anywhere in UK 1,100 1,155 1,155 1,230 1,260 
			  Source: Student Loans Company.

Radiography: Manpower

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of radiographers  (a) working in and  (b) required by the NHS.

Ann Keen: The latest published workforce census showed there were 15,066 qualified therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers working in the national health service in England, an increase of 3,295 (28 per cent.) since September 1997.
	Local NHS organisations are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community and plan the work force they need.

Radiotherapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fractions were delivered by radiotherapy centres in each year since 1997-98; how many fractions of radiotherapy he estimates are required to be delivered by the NHS in order to meet the 31-day treatment standard, as referred to in paragraph 4.24 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; what the expected increase in the number of fractions is against which progress towards the aim of meeting the 31-day treatment standard in radiotherapy services by December 2010 will be measured; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The number of fractions delivered by radiotherapy centre since 1998 has been placed in the Library.
	The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group recommended that the national health service delivers 40,000 fractions per million of population by 2010, rising to 54,000 by 2016. It is estimated that if the NHS meets these recommendations for increasing capacity they will be able to meet the 31 day treatment standard.
	The National Cancer Action Team is producing guidance to support the NHS to identify gaps in fractionation and future service requirements.
	
		
			  Number of radiotherapy fractions delivered using megavoltage radiotherapy equipment 1998-992006-07 
			  NHS trust/radiotherapy centre  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHST  13,709 16,403 12,421 17,494 18,889 18,832 19,106 17,500 
			 Barts and The London NHST 24,571 24,578  26,416 23,048 25,013 24,633 22,156 21,458 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHST 22,456 22,903 23,806 22,669 14,623 9,056 2,304  32,468 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHSFT 18,473 30,203 33,147 33,766 41,252 46,117 44,459 49,496 49,588 
			 Christie Hospital NHSFT 63,336 65,465 61,127 70,658 73,208 67,628 72,493 69,627 72,484 
			 Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHSFT 75,920 76,325 74,727 72,333 76,142 79,680 81,572 76,751 78,419 
			 Derby Hospitals NHSFT   20,254 19,016 15,283 23,051 22,753   
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHST 35,989 37,998 37,604 33,316 33,142 36,450 44,319 46,758 46,778 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHST17,388  16,491 17,498 18,243 15,175 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHST 9,092 9,087 15,233 21,501 20,378 19,761 20,133 22,084 21,423 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSFT 18,980 18,797 32,634 36,341 35,278 34,141 34,724 40,325 39,349 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHSFT 29,680 24,526  20,020 41,207 42,338 38,099 40,363 43,254 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHST 28,707 37,872   35,192 32,105 29,371 32,258  
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHST19,897   24,477 27,140 27,227 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHST 11,808 13,325 14,033 14,327 16,102 16,282 15,477 13,504 13,634 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHSFT 20,725 23,816 28,172 29,753 28,095 29,464 31,076 38,749 40,880 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHST, The 53,747 57,347 58,345 53,457 40,578 50,436  57,486 60,419 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHST 23,582 26,494 25,789 26,095 26,782 27,273 30,145 33,157 34,869 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHSFT, The 51,358 47,756 47,292 48,003 51,901 50,725 52,072 53,542 53,870 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHST 18,949 18,704 20,718 17,285 10,163 20,814 21,110 22,875 23,627 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHST   2,327 8,434 9,092 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHST 25,083 24,595 18,301 19,000 21,973 22,940 20,726 19,877 17,671 
			 Northampton General Hospital NHST  20,124 22,317 22,367 22,831 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHST 30,549 32,072 33,729 31,724 36,207 35,422 38,600 38,590 39,482 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHST 30,136 31,644 31,341 29,105  30,058 33,609 35,860 36,424 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHST 22,061 25,027 23,626 22,160  17,022 18,022 19,132 17,177 
			 Poole Hospital NHST 24,242 26,843 28,918 29,252 30,589 29,937 27,778 30,618 30,137 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHST 11,436 8,281 21,206 25,268 26,226 
			 Royal Berkshire NHSFT 15,409 15,332 16,976 15,379 20,149 
			 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHST 8,778 8,547 8,727 7,279 14,523 19,100 19,144 17,264 18,456 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHSFT 18,529 19,387 19,547 18,857 17,468 18,955 18,419 18,118 19,082 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHST 12,788 11,949  12,066 11,325 12,358 11,832 11,714 10,164 
			 Royal Marsden NHSFT, The 31,515 30,898 31,259 31,834 38,837 54,184 64,636 66,282 68,294 
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHST 32,951 34,242 40,684 35,572 39,020 7,520 38,371 38,549 42,550 
			 Royal United Hospital Bath NHST 10,917 11,438 12,018 12,624 14,808 17,184 15,584 18,577 16,513 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHST, The 17,575 19,010   20,117 20,823 20,620 22,844 23,926 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHSFT 35,624 36,873 39,458 44,612 38,034 47,491 47,684 44,955 50,838 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHST, The 10,199 10,887 10,552 11,239 11,185 12,593 12,933 13,785 15,401 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHSFT 8,249 9,289 8,917 8,652 9,112 11,626 15,773 10,055 10,033 
			 South Tees Hospitals NHST 28,026 28,620 26,589 28,500 28,171 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHST 32,767 32,996 32,34540,294 42,394 39,046 
			 Southend University Hospital NHSFT 14,257 15,147 16,256 17,678 18,477 17,982 17,112 16,664 19,115 
			 United Bristol Healthcare NHST 39,014 41,788 42,591 40,687 42,746 43,480 41,774 43,861 41,736 
			 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHST 22,041 21,045 22,789 19,885 22,798 21,858 24,244 26,348 26,742 
			 University College London NHSFT24,779 20,906 20,189 19,610 21,296 23,316 
			 University Hospital Birmingham NHSFT 39,377 36,432 47,089 51,023 49,101 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHST 8,261 8,243 8,781 9,325 20,459 22,698 19,942 24,628 23,567 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHST 26,428 28,066 29,066 28,105  28,633 32,898 32,257 34,104 
			 University Hospitals of Leicester NHST 19,817 22,162 24,624 25,950 27,146 27,875 28,276 31,012 28,690 
			  Note: Data taken from the radiotherapy equipment survey 2002, 2005, 2007 produced by National Cancer Analysis Team.

Radiotherapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing a long-term workforce strategy for radiotherapy services, as referred to in paragraph 4.31 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and when he expects the strategy to be published.

Ann Keen: As set out in the Cancer Reform Strategy, it is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) to work with cancer networks, NHS trusts and postgraduate deaneries to develop a local long term radiotherapy work force strategy including an urgent review of work force supply, demand and skills mix to identify the investment needed in both staff numbers and types of training commissions. To help SHAs the national Cancer Action Team will shortly be providing guidance on developing a local response to the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report.

Radiotherapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support he is giving to strategic health authorities to enable them to  (a) commission radiotherapy services and  (b) build radiotherapy capacity.

Ivan Lewis: In line with the recommendations of the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group's (NRAG) Report entitled 'Radiotherapy: Developing a World Class Service for England', the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) has recommended that local primary care trusts with their cancer networks may want to review their local radiotherapy service to ensure that recommended levels of fractionisation and linear accelerator productivity are achieved and that they have sufficient capacity to meet the extended 31-day waiting standard for all radiotherapy in 2010.
	The NRAG Implementation Group has been set up to provide support to local clinical teams and commissioners as they review and develop their radiotherapy services. In addition, the National Cancer Action Team is also producing guidance by the end of the summer 2008 to support commissioners.

Rodents

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the effect on public health of rodent infestations in residential areas.

Dawn Primarolo: None.

Scanners

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many new CT scanners have been brought into operation by NHS trusts in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many new magnetic resonance imaging scanners have been brought into operation by NHS trusts in England in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not routinely collect this data. However information supplied by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) relating to the English NHS as at 1 July 2008 indicated that in 2007, 28 new and replacement computerised tomography (CT) scanners and computerised tomography simulators (CT-Sims) were installed. In 2008 two CT scanners and CT-Sims have been installed to date. The HPA does not collect data on operational use.
	Information supplied by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) relating to the English NHS as at 1 July 2008 indicated that in 2007 one new replacement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner was installed. In 2008 there have been no installed MRI scanners to date. The HPA does not collect data on operational use.

Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for moving to an activity-based system for funding screening services.

Ann Keen: In order to develop a tariff for funding cancer screening services, discussions are taking place between National Health Service Cancer Screening Programmes, the National Cancer Action Team and departmental officials. Further details will be available in due course.

Skin Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in current prices to support campaigns to raise awareness of skin cancer in each year since 1997-98; what funding his Department plans to provide in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: In 1997, the Health Education Authority (HEA) ran the Sun Know How campaign on behalf of the Department. Information on funding to the HEA for the specific campaign is not readily available at short notice. SunSmart is the national skin cancer prevention campaign, run by Cancer Research UK on behalf of the United Kingdom Health Departments. The Department of Health in England contributed funding of around 100,000 towards the launch of the SunSmart campaign in March 2003. The campaign has received further funding in the last four financial years.
	The second column in the following table presents the amount of money provided for the SunSmart campaign in that year. The third column expresses that figure in constant 2004-05 prices, i.e. in real terms(1).
	(1 )Notes on the real-terms calculation:
	Beyond 2004-05, the real terms value is less than the cash terms value. This is because inflation has eroded part of the cash value; prices have increased, so a given cash amount buys less than it did in 2004-05.
	2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 funding amounts have been more than the 2004-05 funding amount in both cash terms and real terms.
	The GDP Deflator, available at
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_deflators/data_gdp_fig.cfm,
	has been used to calculate the real terms values.
	
		
			   
			   Funding amount 
			   In cash terms  In 2004-05 prices 
			 2004-05 72,000 72,000 
			 2005-06 145,000 141,944 
			 2006-07 150,000 142,953 
			 2007-08 104,000 96,309 
		
	
	The amounts are given in cash and in real terms in current prices.
	The funding for 2008-09 is 110,000, which is being paid on a quarterly basis. We keep funding for skin cancer awareness campaigns under review in the light of their merits and the overarching funding position of the Department.

Social Services: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage closer working between social services and primary care providers in Cumbria.

Ann Keen: Our Vision for Primary and Community Care, published on 3 July 2008 and already placed in the Library, sets out plans to promote services that are more joined-up and responsive to patient needs.
	An integrated approach to health and wellbeing will require a step change in the relationship between local national health service organisations, local government, other relevant statutory services, employers, third sector and independent sector providers. The Department will provide support to those organisations that wish to go further in integrating health and social care services and will establish a Minister-chaired group to work with stakeholders and identify how government can best provide this support, including reviewing policy, financial and cultural barriers to integration.
	The North West Strategic Health Authority reports that the Cumbria Primary Care Trust already engages with a wide range of partners to improve services and achieve better health outcomes for its local population, including its key partner the Cumbria county council.

Social Services: Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1236W, on social services: training, if he will place in the Library a copy of the expression of interest in becoming a national skills academy for social care submitted to the Learning and Skills Council.

Ivan Lewis: A copy of the expression of interest in becoming a National Skills Academy for Social Care has been placed in the Library. The expression of interest has been prepared by social care employers, facilitated and supported by the Department.

Social Services: Vetting

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of individuals working in the care sector who have not been subject to a full Criminal Records Bureau check in each of the last 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: No such estimate has been made.
	The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) started work in March 2002. CRB checks are generally discretionary, but in some instances are mandatory. CRB checks for staff working in regulated social care were phased in, starting in April 2002, and have been required for all staff since 31 October 2004. Since 26 July 2004, all staff working in regulated social care are required to be checked against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) list. Anyone who is on the list is automatically barred from working in regulated adult social care.
	People can start work in regulated social care before receiving their CRB check where this is necessary to ensure that the care provider has sufficient staff to meet the needs of service users. However, these staff must have applied for a CRB check, they must not be on the POVA list and they must have successfully fulfilled all the other pre-employment requirements. All new staff must undergo training and be adequately supervised.
	In February 2005, Ministers decided that CRB checks should be mandatory throughout the NHS for all eligible new staff with access to patients in the normal course of duties. Full guidance on pre-appointment checks for national health service staff was issued by NHS Employers in May 2005. The NHS Employers guidance is mandatory by virtue of the Standards for Better Health which includes a standard for staff recruitment checks.
	The Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission are responsible for monitoring compliance. They will take appropriate enforcement action if they find a person who has not been appropriately checked.

Surgery

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were carried out in NHS hospitals in  (a) 2005 and  (b) the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of operations carried out in national health service hospitals is recorded as part of hospital episode statistics (HES) data, these data are collection annually.
	
		
			   Number of operations carried out in NHS hospitals 
			 2004-05 6,848,793 
			 2005-06 7,216,643 
			 2006-07 7,889,682 
			  Source: HES 
		
	
	Figures supplied by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Take-away Food: Safety

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Food Standards Agency has to improve standards of hygiene in fast food outlets.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has a range of initiatives aimed at improving hygiene standards in retail and catering outlets. This includes the 'Safer Food, Better Business' programme to promote uptake of food safety management systems. Part of this programme has been a special grant scheme which, to date, has distributed over 9 million to over three-quarters of local authorities in England to provide direct support to over 50,000 small businesses.
	The FSA is also currently consulting on proposals for a United Kingdom-wide 'scores on the doors' scheme to provide information to consumers about hygiene standards of individual food businesses so that they make informed choices about where they purchase food.
	Details of these and other FSA initiatives are available on the FSA's website at
	www.food.gov.uk.

Tomography: Waiting Lists

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CT scans were carried out by NHS trusts in  (a) 2005 and  (b) the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: Numbers of computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans undertaken by NHS trusts in England are set out in the following table.
	Figures for 2007-08 are due to be published in September 2008.
	
		
			  Number 
			   CT  MRI 
			 2004-05 2,141,652 944,935 
			 2005-06 2,481,571 1,118,487 
			 2006-07 2,728,119 1,257,972 
			  Source: Department of Health Central Return KH12.

Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the introduction of techniques for organ preservation which increase the time that can elapse between organ retrieval and transplant.

Ann Keen: Following representation about the organ care system, a new technology for preserving donor hearts for transplantation, the company TransMedics have been made aware that they could apply for funding to the Health Technology Assessment Clinical Trials programme to conduct an evaluation of the technology. Any application would be considered on its merits in competition with other applications.

Trauma: Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of pre-hospital care for people who  (a) are severely injured and  (b) have suffered trauma;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the level of provision of pre-hospital care for trauma patients, with particular reference to those patients aged under 16 years;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of secondary transfer for patients who have suffered severe trauma during the last five years;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the number of patients requiring trauma care who were aged under 16 years in the each of the last five years.
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the number of trauma patients in accident and emergency departments not seen by a consultant in the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what his estimate is of the number of hospitals in England that do not have a formal trauma team but which admit severely injured patients.

Ben Bradshaw: No such assessment has been made centrally. These are matters for the national health service to determine. Over the last year, as part of the Next Stage Review, each strategic health authority has set out its vision for improving health and healthcare based on the recommendations of clinically-led pathway groups including acute care. These visions identify the need for high quality trauma services and a common theme was the need for specialised centres for major trauma.

Trauma: Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures he has put in place to improve the treatment and survival rates of patients who have suffered head trauma;
	(2)  what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure the provision of adequate trauma teams in NHS health care settings where severely injured patients may be received.

Ben Bradshaw: These are matters for the national health service to determine. Over the last year, as part of the Next Stage Review, each strategic health authority has set out its vision for improving health and health care based on the recommendations of clinically-led pathway groups including acute care. These visions identify the need for high quality trauma services and a common theme was the need for specialised centres for major trauma. It is now for primary care trusts to commission appropriate services, in consultation with their local populations, on the basis of the recommendations of the pathway groups.

Trauma: Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what evaluation he has made of the 2007 report of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, Trauma: Who cares;
	(2)  what progress has been made by his Department in taking forward the recommendations of the 2007 report of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death.

Ben Bradshaw: We welcomed the report of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, Trauma: who cares, on its publication in 2007. The clinical pathway groups who developed proposals for the best models of acute care as part of the Next Stage Review: High quality care for all (2008) will have considered the Enquiry's recommendations in their deliberations.

Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure the NHS implements the recommendations for screening and vaccination programmes  (a) the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and  (b) the National Screening Committee, as referred to on page 34 of his Department's document High Quality Care for All, Cm. 7432; for what reasons he does not plan to include people's access to screening and immunisation services as a legal right in the NHS Constitution; for what reasons he does not plan the NHS to establish screening programmes as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The draft NHS Constitution contains a pledge that the national health service will strive always to implement screening and vaccination programmes as recommended by the appropriate national advisory bodies, Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). The draft NHS Constitution and the Government's proposals are open for public consultation until 17 October 2008. The details, including how to feed in views, may be found at www.dh.gov.uk/consultations.
	The Department will continue to use a variety of tools to ensure that the NHS implements recommendations from the JCVI and the UK NSC.
	When the Department introduces a new immunisation programme following a JCVI recommendation it is normally announced to the NHS through a letter from the Chief Medical Officer. Where appropriate, the Department provides guidance and additional funding to the NHS to implement the programme. In some cases, the requirement to offer a vaccine is imposed by or under legislation. 'Vital Signs', a key component of the NHS Operational Framework, prioritises immunisation. Strategic health authorities performance manage primary care trusts against their local plans. Vaccine uptake is monitored across the country to assist in this process.
	When the Department introduces a new screening programme, following a UK NSC recommendation, the steps taken to ensure the NHS implements the recommendations vary depending on the individual screening programme. In the past, the Department has supported implementation by establishing UK NSC led national programme teams. The UK NSC will provide advice on implementation.
	Clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are developmental standards for the NHS and the Government expect them to be fully implemented over time.

Xansa

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments have been made by his Department to Xansa plc in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The following payments were made to Steria (formerly Xansa plc) in each of the last five years:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 49,928.68 
			 2004-05 81,057.39 
			 2005-06 3,124,448.11 
			 2006-07 620,878.54 
			 2007-08 1,285,768.92

Young People: Social Services

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the peer review of the work undertaken by TRIBAL/Secta to develop the Young Adults' Personal Social Services formula.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 No. The release of this information would breach the duty of confidence the Department has to the peer reviewer and to the authors of the relative needs formulae study for younger adults.